No Plan B

These last two months has easily been one of the most challenging times in my life.  Outreach hasn't looked anything like I had imagined it.  But isn't that always the case with any sort of new season.  I thank God that he has given me the grace and strength to take one day at a time.  Our time here in Amsterdam has been fruitful.  Although it wasn't the fruit we came expecting, its still been fruitful.  We are only here for two months.  There are people here who are here long term and the best thing we can do is come along side them and support them however they need.  

One of the main lessons I have learned in this is that we can do absolutely nothing in our own striving.  When we make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit, then and only then can he use us.  When we try and do things in our power, we will fail epically every time.  Evangelism is not an event. It is a lifestyle. Its not an allotted time to do outreach, although those times are meant for training and cultivating the lifestyle.  If don't see one salvation or miracle in our time in Amsterdam, but cultivate a lifestyle of kingdom living and evangelistic lifestyle, we can say mission accomplished.  

A few weeks ago, we were privileged to go to Herrnhut, Germany; home to the Moravians, the first modern missionaries.  We were able to meet up with our friends from the Berlin team and get some much needed R&R in the woods.  It was a time for all of us to get refreshed and recharged.  I had never in my life experienced such peace like I did while walking through those yellow canola fields.  We also had the opportunity to travel to Prague with the Berlin team and do some ministry there.  Saturday afternoon, all twenty of us went to St. Charles Bridge and set up shop with a guitar and a free prayer sign.  As we ushered in the presence of God in the middle of Prague, people began to get out their cameras and film us.  Mostly people we just spectating, but as time went on, people were coming to us and begging for praying with tears in their eyes.  Its all about bringing heaven to earth folks.  As we starting seeing results, we were feeding off of each other's joy.  Our leader Jacob waited for the light to change and for probably 75 people to start crossing the street as he started preaching the gospel at the top of his lungs.  This quickly started a chain reaction.  I was next and then several more started to proclaim our testimony of Jesus and the message of the Gospel.  It was the first time I had ever done anything like that.  It was quite liberating and even though people just looked and continued to walk, we know that God's word never goes void!!

As we came back to Amsterdam, things looked different.  We came back refreshed and full of joy.  And as time draws closer to the end of this season, I am still in the dark as to what is the next step.  I have had to really fight to be at peace with that.  As people, we feel we always need to know what is next.  When God just wants us to stay close to him and simply trust.  The other night we were invited over for dessert at one of the YWAM Amsterdam staff's house.  An amazing woman of God told us her story about her amazing faith journey filled with questions, sickness and lots of waiting on the Lord.  When she would ask God about the next step or why such things were happening, He would simply say, "Trust me" or "Stay close to me."  Then she said something that has not left my thoughts.  She said, "With God, you don't need a plan B."  This pierced my heart.  I have so many different ideas as to what might be my next step, but hearing that story gave me the peace that I needed to fully trust God that he has path already mapped out for me and in the fullness of time, He will reveal it to me.  If He revealed it to me now, I would take all my focus off the last week in Amsterdam and focus on the next step.  So don't get impatient or frustrated when you aren't getting the answer you want.  Embrace and enjoy the waiting.  Easier said than done, I know, but if we truly trust God like we say we do; we will worry not and we would rejoice at all times.

Grace and peace to you,

Derek Owen