On the Island of Zanzibar
Good times with friends...
It has been quite some time since my last update, and for that I apologize. Time has gone by so quickly. I can hardly believe I am nearing the end of my journey here in Tanzania. A lot has happened over the last few months. God is hard at work here in Tanga, not just in the hearts and lives of the Tanzanians but in me as well. Over the course of the last 5 months God has been teaching me some important truths to lay hold of. Of the many things God has been showing me, the reoccurring theme would be his beckoning of me to focus on him and finish the task set before me.
One night I was sharing with my dad some struggles and uncertainties I was facing. And after listening to all I had to say he responded with this… ” Jill, everything has it’s time. Right now you’re in Africa. This is your course. Finish Your course.” This response seemingly had nothing to do with anything I was saying… and yet… it had everything in the world to do with it. I realized somewhere along the way my focus had shifted. My joy was no longer in the journey. My vision had trailed from the One who had called me to this course and my eyes had become fixed on the finish line. In his mercy, God reminded me not to look behind or I would become discouraged. And not to look ahead or I would become uncertain. But to live in the here and now fixing my eyes upon the author and finisher of my faith.
“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.” Oh how difficult it is for us to live without concern of the future or regret of the past. But, oh what we miss when we refuse to live in the here and now with our eyes fixed on Jesus. My prayer is that we would trust in God and rest in his promises with the calm assurance that our past is dealt with and our future is secure in him. That we may be free to daily delight in his presence and find the joy in the journey of today.
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- On the Island of Zanzibar
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- Good times with friends…
Wow! I’m probably the only person in the world who has read this. That is because no one checks it anymore. Not sure why I did. Just a fluke I guess. In reality I needed to read what you wrote. I, too, look to the future too much. The present has things I can do and people I can help. Thanks again. You did it for me one more time. I love you. I realize this may appear to be from your brother but it’s not true.