“Moses, what’s that you have in your hand…?” Moses thought of every excuse he could possibly find of why he wasn’t the right man for the job. I can imagine he really wanted to say “What, this silly thing – what does a rod have to do with what you just called me to do?” Yet God used that same silly insignificant piece of stick to bring deliverance to His people. God used what Moses had.
As soon as the plane leveled off in the air I looked out the window and suddenly felt frightened as I often feel when my wings are stretched to do something I’ve never done before. With my face turned away I cried out to the Lord in absolute terror.
“What am I doing going to Turkey?” “This is ridiculous – I don’t even speak the language – I want to go back – I want to go home where I’m safe…” and the fear increased with every drop of tear.
“Faith, what’s that you have in your hand?”
“Lord, what do you mean – there’s nothing in my hands just my two long arms with my ten fingers.”
“Faith, that’s all I need.” Suddenly I understood. God didn’t want to use who I’m not. He wanted to use who I am – my weaknesses, my personality, my everything!
The Lord whispered words of courage to my heart and as a response to His overwhelming Presence I slipped my hands into His.
The morning of my first visit to the orphanage the Lord impressed upon me to clothe myself in humility and to let go of my false expectations especially of myself and by the time I entered the gates I understood exactly what He meant. Nothing could ever prepare me for what I saw and experienced behind those doors.
Mondays and Thursdays are bath days for the kids and I assisted the workers on this heavy-duty task. As I entered the large room I saw kids lying everywhere with piles of pampers and clothes. When the orphans were washed they were carried to a room and it was up to us to dry and clothe them.
As I kneeled to help in this task and glimpsed their deformed bodies and heard their wailing as if in pain, I knew I had a decision to make. I was literally at a crossroad. I could either (a) run as fast as I could and never look back or (b) determine to learn to do the job well in humility and with the joy of the Lord. I looked at my hands and remembered that all God needed were my two hands so I decided that I was going to do the job and do it well unto the glory of God. That decision took only seconds and the joy came afterwards.
Later on in the day I was captivated by a little girl around 10 years of age or so, badly malnourished, a zombie-like figure with cuts and bruises on her ear. She had no speech except for the wails that came out every now and then. Curiosity took a hold of me and I wondered what she would do if I gave her my hands. I did and only came to realize that all she wanted was for us to walk the hallway together – up and down, over and over. When I sat down she wanted to sit – not beside me – but in my lap. She was content with doing just that.
Imagine 800 orphans! What on earth can only 8 or so global workers do with 800 mentally and/or physically disabled kids? They can only do what they can and pray that many more workers will be thrust out into the harvest field to join them in helping those who still have not been reached.
So, what do you have in your hands? Good. That’s all God needs.
©2002 Thrive
View the original print magazine where this article was first published.
