In the Chaos, You are Sovereign Still

It's hard to explain sometimes how I know that God called me to Colombia. We have thoughts all the time, but how do we really know when it's God speaking and when it's just us? I have searched for a way to explain it and haven't really been able to until this week. I heard the story of a man who said, "When you see the truth, you just know it's the truth." How do you really explain that except to say that you just know...and what am I supposed to do but follow His lead.

Leading up to and during this trip I have prayed that God would show up. I mean really...who am I that He would ask me to go to another continent that is thousands of miles from home to tell people about Him when I have barely done that in my own country? I could never do this on my own. Why would God choose to use such ordinary people to spread His kingdom? I have often asked myself that question over the years. Wouldn't it be easier to use someone famous that people would listen to? The truth is, God uses ordinary people like you and me because that's the only way He will get all the glory. The Holy Spirit shows up in our weakness at just the right time, at just the right place, and with just the right people, to profess He is Lord.

During this week I have witnessed poverty unlike anything I have ever seen. We have poverty in America, but this is on a completely different level...so much that a stream of sewage runs through the middle of the streets because there is no plumbing to take it away. I sat and talked today with a 68 year old woman who was worn and tired with the years of struggle she has had in this life. Her home has no windows, no door, no electricity, no running water, and a dirt floor that has been built up to try to keep the water out during the flood that happens each year. For 33 years she has struggled to survive with her family in the community of Mesolandia, just outside of Barranquilla, Colombia. Those 33 years have aged her to the point where she appears much older than 68. Years of strain have taken its toll on her. Each year during the rainy season, the water breaches the levy and floods the streets and virtually every home in this community. Perils the likes of Katrina happen every single year. This woman's family has to live on the roof during this time. However, due to her health, she cannot get to the roof so she lives for months at a time in waist deep water. In America we can't imagine a life like this...we're blinded by our air conditioning, iPhones, satellite TV, and computers. Of all the people we have talked to this week, this woman will forever be imprinted in my mind. After we shared the gospel, she prayed and professed Jesus Christ to be her Lord and Savior. Her facial expression and words echoed in my mind as she hugged me tight, kissed my cheek, and whispered in a broken voice, "Muchas Gracias Señor".

I prayed for God to show up here in Colombia and He has done so in a big way. I have witnessed more people come to Christ this week than in the other 35 years of my life combined. How is that even possible? Maybe I just haven't been paying attention or maybe we sometimes find our worth in what we have, not who we have in Jesus Christ.

I'm starting to wonder if God breaks us down to show us that we're chasing the wrong things. Sometimes it seems like a never ending cycle. In America we call it the rat race. Why do we do this to ourselves? He was crucified to set me free. Now I live to bring Him praise. I'm humbled that He would ask me to be a small part of His work. The world is a broken place, times are tough, and people are hurting, but Lord, in the chaos you are Sovereign still.