Be Still and Know...

Welcome to a new year of the Messenger, a monthly publication from MRN full of resources and encouragement for Missionary Care! We’re excited about spending the first half of 2021 looking at the building blocks of care through the lens of one of the most widely-used models, first created by Kelly O’Donnell.

Be Still and Know...
Jay Jarboe

I remember the day well. We were into our second year as missionaries in Mexico City. I remember the emotions I felt looking down off of a balcony and seeing my car parked on the busy city street. I had just received news that the paperwork for the car I bought upon arriving in the city was not completed accurately. The former owner still had keys to the car and the right to take the car back.
 
A few days earlier, I had heard from our landlord that he was doubling our rent. The deeper emotions were frustration, anger and fear because of a lack of unity on our mission team at the time. Being honest, what frustrated me the most was the fact that my 4-year-old daughter was able to correct my Spanish. She had made that her role on the mission team. The voice in my head sarcastically said, “You call yourself a missionary?” It was not a good day. The first time I could say, “Come, Lord Jesus, come” and mean it. 
 
In reality, these experiences were not all that difficult. However, it was the first time I began to consciously realize that mission work is not just a strategic endeavor, but rather a spiritual endeavor. Surprising, isn’t it, for a well-prepared missionary? It was not that I didn’t pray, study my Bible, and seek to practice other spiritual disciplines, but rather my struggle was that I did not fully understand where to place my priorities in the spiritual battle. I was leaning more on my knowledge, my abilities, and my human efforts to make things happen.  This experience started me on a journey (albeit an imperfect one) that continues today, a journey to obey God when He says, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10).
 
I would say that most Christian leaders are not those who know how to “be still.” At least I know it is true for me. My usual “go to” is not to be still. I lie to myself saying, “There is too much work to do and people depend upon me. If I am not sharing my faith, developing leaders, and serving others, how will it get done? I have ministry goals, strategic plans and responsibilities. If I am sitting still nothing is getting done.” You heard it: the false belief that mission work depends upon me and my activity. This false way of thinking actually impacted my early career on the field. It kept me from hearing and believing the words of Jesus. “I am the vine: you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NIV). 

For the next few months, The Messenger will be focused on one of the classic models of care for missionaries, illustrated by this concentric circle diagram. Notice that  mutual care, self-care, sender care, specialist care and network care are all dependent upon Master Care. I had to grow to realize that my trust in and walk with God was the only work that really mattered.  
 
The beginning of a new year is always a time for a fresh start for me. A time of reflection, recreation, and recommitment to essential rhythms in my life. Perhaps it is for you as well.  I invite you to consider, “How am I listening to, learning from, and abiding in the Master?”

God’s kingdom in our lives is about creating space for God to accomplish His work. The Parable of the Growing Seed reveals to us that God’s transformative work in our life is like a farmer who plants seeds. “All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk then the head, then the full kernel in the head.” (Mark 4:26-29).
 
What we sometimes call the spiritual disciplines, our spiritual rhythms, our time with the Lord in silence and solitude, is simply creating space for God to be God in our life. These daily times of solitude remind me that I am not God and God’s love for me is beyond my imagination (Ephesians 3). I believe that missionaries often struggle with exhaustion and stress as servants in the kingdom of God. At least this has been my personal experience.
 
Ruth Haley Barton in her book, Sacred Rhythms, says,  "Another reason we are so tired is that we are always working hard to figure things out rather than learning how to cease striving, how to be with what is true in God’s presence and let God be God in the most intimate places of our life – which is, in the end, the only thing that will change anything. We’re busy trying to make stuff happen rather than waiting on God to make stuff happen."[i]
 
Could I invite you to begin this new year examining the use of your time and the space you are creating for God to be God, to love you, care for you and speak to you? How are you living out the call from God to “stop fighting and know that I am God”? (Psalms 46:10 ERV).
 
Our staff at Mission Resource Network has been convinced that we must spend more time in prayer, listening and learning from God. The global mission we are all involved in is beyond our human efforts. Our growth in this area is definitely imperfect, but we have seen signs of hope. One of our commitments has been to spend more time in silence, solitude and listening to God. To that end, our Missionary Care Director, Andy Johnson, also serves as our Prayer Coordinator. He is leading us to create more intentional practices around prayer.
 
We have set aside a Day of Prayer where we go to a place off-site and spend time in worship, solitude, corporate prayer and listening to God, His Word and the community. In our last Day of Prayer in 2020 we used an article by Henri Nouwen entitled: Moving from Solitude to Community to Ministry. Andy used this article to create a prayer guide we would like to share with you. This can be used by your ministry team, a small group, and/or in your individual time of prayer and reflection. 
 
We encourage you to set a time this month for a day of solitude, silence and prayer. Consider your daily, weekly, monthly and yearly habits. What space are you creating for God to speak to you and reveal his unconditional love for you?  Find a partner in this endeavor. Bring renewal to your ministry team through a day of prayer. Read a good book on creating spiritual rhythms and disciplines. Whatever you choose, start small, be consistent and give yourself grace when you stumble. And above all listen to the voice of Jesus say, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love.” (John 15:9, ESV).
 
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[i] Barton, Ruth Haley. Sacred Rhythms (Transforming Resources) (p. 41). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.