So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.— 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Not long after arriving in the South Pacific to begin work as missionaries, John G. Paton and his wife Mary had a baby son. Their joy was tragically cut short, however, when both Mary and the baby died of tropical fever within weeks of the birth.
Alone and surrounded by hostile cannibals, Dr. Paton had to dig their graves and bury his loved ones with his own hands. He wrote in his journal, “If it had not been for Jesus and the fellowship and grace He afforded me, I am certain I would have gone mad or died of grief beside their lonely graves.”
Paton was strengthened and sustained by his faith. He stayed true to his calling to preach the gospel on the island of Aniwa. After many years of laboring, every village on the island had professed Christ.
The calling of God on our lives isn’t always promised to be easy. But God’s calling and His empowerment are inseparable. That means when He calls us to do something, He gives us the grace we need to follow Him and make it through any shortfall or tragedy we may encounter.
Don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from following God’s calling. Walk with Him step by step, trusting He’ll be right by your side every moment!
Prayer Challenge
Ask God to help you follow Him in obedience to His calling even in the face of uncertainty.
Questions for thought
Why do you think following God’s calling often involves going through difficult circumstances?
When we neglect to follow God’s calling out of fear or uncertainty, what does that say about our trust in Him?