Go: A 40-Day Journey To The Never ReachedSample

Our Waiting Year

By: Rachel Powell

Jesus was alive! His followers were eager to tell everyone the news. What amazing Spirit-led instructions did Jesus give them? Wait. 

Sometimes waiting seems to counteract purpose. However, the Bible shows us there is purpose in waiting. 

I’ve learned a lot about waiting. In college, I felt the Spirit calling me to be a missionary. Years later, my husband and I knew it was time. We applied to be missionaries to Thailand. We also learned we were expecting our second child. Life was good. 

Three days before our first missionary interview, I was hospitalized with breathing problems and diagnosed with stage III lung cancer. It was like a punch to the gut. How could this happen? We tried to move forward, but as we talked with leaders, we knew it was time to wait. 

In August, I had surgery to remove my entire left lung, while I was ten weeks pregnant. It was so scary. Over the next year I would develop a life threating infection and undergo two more surgeries before giving birth to a healthy baby girl. We had such uncertainty—and so much waiting. 

One year after my last surgery, we were approved as missionaries. We prepared to go, knowing this was the perfect time. Although my battle with cancer seemed like an unwarranted delay, God perfectly orchestrated everything in his timing. 

I like to think of it as our waiting year. We knew God had called us, but it was as if he said, “Go, but wait.” Like the disciples, we knew the hope and power of the gospel and wanted to share it. Yet, Jesus called us to wait. What happened when the disciples waited? The Holy Spirit came in power.

Power comes in waiting. As we wait on the Lord, we receive power, learn what makes his heart beat and become more like him. Waiting is not time wasted. Only after waiting are we truly ready to go. 

Go Wait

Develop your patience by delaying gratification. Put off that impulse buy. Skip that snack. Do one more chore before quitting. Ask God to give you urgency to go tell others about him but patience to wait for his proper timing.

Pray for Never Reached People Group: Thailand’s Mon 

Pray for miracles, signs, and wonders among Thailand’s Mon people that will point them to our powerful God who loves them.