If You're Homesick, Take Heart

Eight months ago I sat in a small attic bedroom in London, halfway through a season of living there for 6 months.  The first three months of my time there was not an easy time for relationships in my life and I found myself continually and painfully reminded of my weakness.  This, however, brought highlight to Christ's strength.  As I read back through my prayer updates, I came across this post.  Wherever you are, if you're homesick...I hope this lifts you up. 

September 14, 2011
"I'll just be honest with you. I'm incredibly homesick. I'm being this honest because I created this group for prayer, and I need yours.

Let me clarify on what I mean by "homesick." No, I don't want to come home. The exact opposite, actually. I love the work God has engaged me in here. He has brought me here for HIS purposes and I will remain here for His purposes. That has not changed.

I just miss the faithful friends I have at home. My friends who, when I ask about their life, they ask about mine...because they love me. My friends who love me unconditionally and patiently. I miss having a couch to cry on when I've had a hard day. I miss the births, engagements, and homecoming games of those dear to me. I miss laughing with my wonderful church family.

This, however, is not about me lamenting. As I yearn for these things, I realize more and more that it paints an even greater picture of the reality that following Jesus is not a project or an event - it's your life. A friend of mine told our team this summer that these little bits and pieces of life you may be missing are a part of dying to yourself...a part of losing your life to find it.

And do not mistake - there are good things happening here. But they are happening as we go throughout life, a conversation about Jesus here, a seed of truth planted there. Just like, I pray, these things happen in your life.

Please continue to pray. Holy Spirit is working in several of our friends here and even if the process is slow I am in awe of it. Pray for them. Pray that they would hear, receive, and understand truth. Pray that they would see where there life intersects the Gospel, because everyone's life does.

And as you pray for me, pray that I would keep my eyes fixed on the goal. Pray that I would "be here" and be able, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to navigate through what I feel, to see what is the truth. The truth being, that everything is about God's glory. My life, in whatever country, whatever season, must succumb to that glorious reality."