That was nine years ago. The exciting life of a missionary that I had imagined has turned out to be made up of daily mundane faithfulness to a God and a call that I can’t explain. The journey to the field was longer than expected, and I often felt like I was stuck changing diapers instead of changing the world. Even after arriving in Japan, my life feels much more ordinary than it did on my first overseas adventure. Setting up a home, carrying a toddler everywhere, staying up late studying Japanese... in the midst of the mundane it is easy to slip into thinking that I can do it in my own strength. The reality is that none of us can get through the simplest day without the help of our Maker, “for in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). I shouldn't need a stressful ministry schedule in a foreign culture to push me into the arms of my Savior. I need to live my whole life like that, no matter what my circumstances are.
Pray for us to live in daily dependence on God, especially now, especially always. Lord, help us to be faithful in the small things as we trust You to do great things.