Friday, October 23, 2015

Dramatic Peace

God is always moving, continually hearing us and answering our prayers. Sometimes, it doesn’t feel like it. 

Other times, He moves in dramatic and obvious ways and all I can do is be in awe. That is how it’s been. Since arriving in Addis on Sunday morning, we got all our errands done and left for Injibara on Wednesday. 

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Early morning start, prayed off by our teammates, Mark and Debbie.

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The Ethiopian road is not my happy place. Usually my neck is so tight I get a migraine from the stress and anxiety of all the people, animals and vehicles. This time was different.

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Views are breathtaking but I unfurrowed my brow, looked up and enjoyed them.

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Rainy season was drier than many years and has some areas of the country in possible draught, but as we drove North, we saw a lot of green.

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A lot of baboons at the bottom of the Blue Nile Gorge. You can’t see it well, but there is a baby baboon suckling her mother.

After a long, uneventful, peaceful trip (besides Jon and I briefly passionately disagreeing over if there was one or two “Fievel Goes West” movies. Ha! He was right.)

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We were home. The place we call home. One of the places we call home. I didn’t know how it would feel, pulling in. We rejoiced and felt deep peace and contentment.

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Our welcome has been warm. 

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And we are glad to be back, all four of us, and I think that is nothing short of a miracle.

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And this one, she is back to drinking black, strong coffee. 

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We are back to school, thankful to find some routines.

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And eating field corn, roasted over flames.

The peace and settledness we feel is unquestionably God’s provision, provided through your prayers, in our life. My anxiety has been replaced by deep peace and that is kind of a big deal.

I was blessed and convicted by this George Muller quote, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” I am begging God that my anxiety is replaced by unwavering faith in Him and His provision.

9 comments:

sarah.flyingkites said...

This is incredible - I'm in tears. Encouraged by God's peace and personal comfort to all of us.

LOVE the Fievel disagreement and the George Mueller quote hits my heart.

Love and Prayers!

Sara Huber said...

Yay!! Blessings all around. Praise God.

Erin said...

Praising God with you!

Anonymous said...

God's peace...the kind that passes understanding is just absolutely amazing! So glad that you feel it so dramatically as you settle in. He is good and gracious and His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness!

We love you bunches, Mom and Dad

sandra said...

This gave me a smile on my face and chills up my spine. I love that you have dramatic peace. Praise be to God!!

bri said...

So thankful you had a good trip and made it safe and sound!

Matt + Kait said...

Your George Muller quote reminds me of Psalm 4:

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

From John MacArthur study Bible:
"Psalm 4 also exhibits the changing attitudes of the worshiper in his most difficult circumstances. David's movement will be from anxiety to assurance, as he travels down the road of prayer and trust in God."

Anonymous said...

Jon & Amy, So thankful for a peaceful transition back. Praying for you during your runnings back and and forth between the high country and Addis. May you continue to know His assuring presence, purpose, vision and peace. Praying your relationships go deeper, language learning continues, harmonious marriage/communication, and that He brings fruit in His time and way. Blessings, Stephany

Anonymous said...

God's grace is so amazing. Thankful for your peaceful transition! God is so good:)
Jim and Jan