Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June/83

Contributor - Emma DeHoog

Title - I Could Never

Topic - Missions

"You're going to be a missionary to North Africa, how wonderful! But I could never do that."

So often we hear, "But I could never teach that class." "But I could never speak in front of a large group." "But I could never. . ." Each of us feels this way about different things. We may not feel capable or qualified or up to it.

Students who once saw graduation as a far off impossible thing are now receiving their diplomas, their degrees, or even their Ph. D.'s. Young people who struggled with relationships are now saying their marriage vows or rejoicing in parenthood. All of a sudden, or so it seems, the impossible is here. I could never have seen myself speaking at mission conferences or preparing for a life-time work with Arabs in North Africa. And yet this is exactly where the Lord has put me.

We rejoice in these events. But they have not come overnight. Many years of hard, day by day work goes into a graduate. Years of growing with family and friends prepares a person for marriage. And all of life is needed to prepare one to be a parent.

What we are doing may not seem very significant at the time. Yet, when we are where the Lord wants us to be, He uses us and even prepares us for the future. He leads us one step at a time and builds us one brick at a time. The bricks of today are resting on the foundation laid yesterday. The building of tomorrow will be determined by the work of today. The Lord is our brick layer. He has the master plan. His promise to us is that He will bring to completion the good word He has begun within us.

As I reflect on the past I am amazed at how the Lord has prepared me for work as a missionary. A Christian home, an active church life, Bible College (one of those "nevers" in my life), experience, camps, work people, events, books and even trials have all been a part of my growing Still my growing and learning has only begun.

He calls me to follow Him, not just for that day when I'll talk to some North African in fluent Arabic, but for each day. Each day is a new day, a new step of faith, a new opportunity to serve the Lord. It is not that I am able to do great things. I can do so little. But I have a great God who is able to do the impossible. And He uses me! He has chosen to use people to do great things for Him.

Jesus called twelve uneducated men to follow Him. They and other followers of Jesus turned the world upside down with the good news. They experienced the power and reality of a risen Lord. By faith David stood against Goliath. By faith Daniel glorified God among a heathen people. By faith Peter healed a lame man. By faith you and I reach out with the love of God, whether it is in North Africa or to our neighbour.

What challenge does God put in front of you today? What steps of faith can you take to see His purposes accomplished? What a glory that God is preparing us step by step for eternal fellowship with Himself. This should motivate us to search for specific ways in which we may participate in this building process, even to tackle the "I could never" opportunities of life.

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