This past September, I returned home from a life-changing month in Ecuador. This trip let me shadow OMS missionaries and learn more about what life as a missionary is like. Overall, every day of that trip was enriching.
However, one moment stood out to me. By the time I arrived at a camp ministry in Pallatanga, where I would spend the rest of my time in Ecuador, I was struggling with burnout stemming from a spiritual issue. Though at the time, I did not realize this.
Then, the missionary serving at the camp told me, “The work is secondary.”
He was speaking of the maintenance tasks we had at the camp and that the camp was a place to rest. Those words stuck with me. He reminded me to rest in Jesus, but I realized I hadn't been abiding in Him. For so long, I had lived a Christian life focused on works, without holding on to the truth that the only thing I needed to focus on was abiding with Him, who produces the works. Being driven by works ultimately led to severe spiritual exhaustion.
What’s more, this verse kept coming up in the previous few months:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9
For the next two weeks or so, I helped with the tasks at hand, but I also prayed more deeply than ever before. I rested, took time to be in the presence of God, and recognized this truth: Jesus is not sitting in some far-away place, waiting for me to say the magic words to summon Him to my presence. He is with me constantly - wherever I go.
My prayer life has now radically changed from desperately trying to reach the throne of grace to accepting that Jesus is with me, and I am with Him.
