Shine in the Darkness - Part 1ናሙና

Don't Give Up

Nine years ago, my dad’s carry-on bag was stolen at O’Hare Airport. The bag contained little more than all six of my family’s passports. We had hardly begun the first leg of our first international trip as a family – a mission trip to Haiti. We’d been saving and raising support for months, and flights to Haiti were only flying once a week. If we missed tomorrow’s flight out of Fort Lauderdale, we were not going to Haiti.  

I remember a tense taxi ride to downtown Chicago on a Friday afternoon, and a security check and frantic explanation on the 18th floor. We filed for replacement passports and were ushered into a waiting room. The anxiety from my parents was palpable enough to keep my siblings and I sitting quietly as they addressed the only other person in the room. 

This man spoke briefly with my parents and then turned to all of us and said, “Galatians 6:9 says, ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’” With that, the stranger stood and left.  

Within the hour we were issued new passports. Miraculously, we made it onto a late-night flight from Midway Airport to Orlando. Miraculously, there was one rental van left. Miraculously, we arrived at our gate in Fort Lauderdale for the 6am flight that would begin our planned adventure.  

Why did we have to go through all that craziness just to end up where we planned, hoped, and prayed to be? I think God wanted to show us who was really in control of our plans. I think He wanted to bless us with a reliance on Him that would sustain us well beyond a week in Haiti.  

In the midst of this pandemic, you might be feeling anxious, stressed, or unsure of your plans for the future. You might feel like you’ve done all you can do, and you’re in a waiting room while someone else decides your fate.  

I want to remind you as the stranger reminded us:  

Don’t get tired of doing your good work. God will continue to provide for you as you continue in your faithfulness. At God’s appointed time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  

Author: Natalia Warren, Senior Graphic Designer - Global Leadership Network