11302019 Hopes and Dreams and Plans

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who knows the future. He knew every detail of our persons and of our lives before we even existed. "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139:16). We have no idea how our lives will turn out, but God knows.

I was recently reminded of this truth by a trio of teenage girls who sang special music at my church. As far as I know, I only ever heard this song once before in my life, and that was at my commissioning service just before I left for Mexico. The words include "All I ever want to be is what you want of me, Lord. I give my life to You, and all my hopes and dreams and plans I place within Your hands, Lord. Here am I, Lord, use me; take my life and mold me."

Twenty-four years later, I am struck by how very appropriate those words were back then. As a young lady setting out to serve God, I was giving Him myself and desiring to be used by Him. That song had the right words. I had no idea, however, what those words of dedication would mean for me. To surrender to God all one's hopes and dreams and plans, to surrender to be only what He wants one to be - that is somewhat easy to say, but when the hopes and dreams and plans get derailed and when God wants something different than what one thought he was going to be - that's when submission takes on deeper significance.

All people have hopes and dreams and plans, and that is especially true for missionaries. The job requires that kind of personality, with passion and goals and striving for the sake of the gospel, but those goals have to be placed in God's hands for Him to manipulate and change as He desires, or to bring to fruition if that is His will.

As I heard the girls sing those words, I realized how much my hopes and dreams and plans had changed from the first time I heard that song. Yes, I accomplished some of my desires during my brief years in Mexico, but I'm nowhere close to where I thought at that time that my life would end up. There have been many changes and events, much good and much difficult.

I asked myself the question: Knowing what I now know about how God changed those plans, would I still say those same words today? Would I still surrender it all to God? The longer life goes, the more fervently positive I believe my answer is. I have seen the mastery of God's work and the perfection in His plan. There is no better path than surrendering all to God. So whether we say those actual words or not, they have to be the tone of our heart. And we have to keep saying them. Those are not just "teenager" words; they are young person words, middle-aged person words, and retired person words. Throughout life, we have to keep saying, "All my hopes and dreams and plans I place within Your hands, Lord." The most important thing to us must continue to be the desire to be exactly what God wants us to be so that He can work out His plan in and through us, even if it looks nothing like what we always dreamed about and worked for.

I compiled an imaginary (and very busy) missionary list of plans; I'm sure none of you fit this list exactly, but you probably see reflections of yourself represented. An ideal missionary's dreams might include getting married to a dedicated spouse, having six children, (at least three of whom will pursue missions), finishing deputation in two years, learning the language in six months, starting one church every term, serving at least six terms, enjoying safety and protection, having good health for tireless service, seeing 1000 converts, publishing a dozen books, starting a Bible institute and camp ministry and orphanage, establishing a coalition or group that will multiply itself and outlast the missionary, and ministering on every inhabited continent.

I don't think any of those are bad goals. They evidence a heart that wants to accomplish something meaningful for God. But when we give God (not just once, but continually) our hopes and dreams and plans, when we ask Him to mold us into exactly what He wants us to be, then we can be satisfied with singleness, childlessness, delays, health struggles, political turmoil, struggling ministries, slow progress, changes of direction, and thwarted plans.

I think of missionaries whose passion was great, but who were content to settle into ministries or times of ministry when they were in service roles - running a mission home or school, keeping the books, ordering supplies, translating, doing construction, etc. Maybe that wasn't what they really wanted to do, but they faithfully did what God put in front of them. They were "faithful in that which is least" and so found favor with God. God makes some vessels unto honor and some for less honorable purposes, but they all fulfill His purposes if they are willing to let the Potter make the decisions. (Romans 9:20-21).

Can I challenge you with two things? First, consider those words - "all my hopes and dreams and plans I place within Your hands" - as they relate to the past. As you reflect on how God either changed or blessed your plans, thank Him for His amazing work. Second, pray those words anew today. Your dreams and plans are different now than they were five or ten or twenty years ago. I think your soul will be blessed as you verbalize to God that all your plans are still submitted to Him, and that you are willing for Him to change any one of them if that is what will bring Him glory. God knows all, and He knows best.

Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com