The real issue

The Lord is my Portion, therefore I will wait for him. The Lord is good to those whose trust is in him; It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3)

As we enter into our second year here at ECA, we are already thinking a lot about what we will do next year - whether to stay here or go back to the States. We made a two year commitment, but see the great need for teachers and staff here so are praying and seeking the Lord's direction about what next year may hold for our family. Along those lines, I (Keri) was reading this week in Jeremiah, ch. 33, where God is speaking to the remaining Israelites who have stayed in Jerusalem after most of the rest have been taken captive to Babylon. These remaining Israelites want to flee to Egypt, where they think they will have food, work and safety. But God urges them, through Jeremiah, to trust Him, to know that he will faithfully provide for their needs if they obey Him and stay where they are. The issue is obedience to the Lord and whether or not they trust him to know what is best for them and to provide for them.

I know our situation is obviously different than theirs, but it struck me how in my heart I still believe that if we lived in the U.S., life would be safer, more predictable, we would have a stable income and a permanent home, whereas life here is, um, kind of the opposite of all of that. And yet, at the same time, I see how much faith and trust it takes to live this way - rather, I am acutely aware of our insecurities and instability. In reality, life is unpredictable no matter where you live, but in the U.S. it feels safer for some reason. Living here, we recognize our need for His provision in a much clearer way. So as we consider what to do after this year - it was a great reminder to know that what we think is best and what may seem safer may not be the case and we most likely would rely on our own efforts and house and job instead of looking to the Lord weekly to provide what we need.