I started my day watching the sun come up from behind Mount Legogote, inhaling the spicy steam of my cup of coffee and being still.
Still isn't my favourite posture; I'd rather be working or cooking or dancing round the kitchen.
But still is something I've had to learn (and not necessarily by choice). And to be honest, it's teaching me a lot. It's teaching me not to strive for things so completely in my own efforts. It's teaching me that stubbornness can be both my greatest asset and my biggest flaw. It's teaching me that having a Mary heart in a Martha world is a constant choice. And sometimes I get it right, but sometimes I don't.
I’ve been thinking a lot about desert places, not least because today is our Hands Global Day of Prayer and Fasting for the drought that has ravaged so many of the communities we work in across Africa. In many ways, the last little while has felt like a desert season. I’ve had to leave Zambia and go through a seemingly endless rotation of doctors, physio and chiropractors. It certainly wasn’t how I’d envisaged spending the last month. I haven’t been able to work, and have spent the vast majority of time getting very well acquainted with various different concrete or tiled floors.
But God so often uses the desert seasons to draw us away, to speak to the depths of our souls the things that we busy ourselves too much to hear. And so in a very strange way, I’m so incredibly thankful for the season I’m finding myself in. It’s an exercise in patience and trust and in swallowing the pride that I cloak in independence. It’s an open invitation to get away and discover what real rest looks like (Matt. 11:28 in the Message puts it far better than I ever could).
And so here in South Africa, it’s well with my soul. Because of who my God is, because of the beautiful family he has called me into, and because I trust that he absolutely knows what he’s doing in this season (even if I don’t). I believe that he is a faithful father who delights in giving good gifts to his children. I am convinced of the power of prayer, to bring healing, to bring life, to bring water to the spiritual and physical dryness we so often experience. So please, join with me as we pray for Africa’s most vulnerable today, believing that God can and will bring change.
There’s a prayer guide available here
