My aim is not to cause you worry by what you read in this blog post but to rather help encourage you with the hope which is found in the sufficiency of Scripture and the security of the gospel. As a biblical counselor, these are two areas where I often focus when I am counseling someone during their trials or temptations. There is true hope found in passages like 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which assures us that, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." and Philippians 2:13 where we are encouraged in our walk in the gospel because as it says, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." All of Scripture is inspired by God and is 100% sufficient in leading believers as they walk in righteousness through the saving and sanctifying power of the grace of God.
In this post, I am going to share with you how over the past few weeks, we have seen counseling come home and as a family we have been facing our current hardships and heartaches through the power of God's Spirit working in us and the wisdom of His Word educating and encouraging our family as we seek to glorify God's name and grow in Christ-likeness. Here are four biblical truths which our family has found hope in and we trust that they will also aide you as you pray for and partner with us in our continued service here in Thailand.
Hurts: I am beginning with "Hurts" because this is what we are experiencing. We can call it pain, pressure, frustration, uncertainty, or even burdens. What matters is the reality that our family is "hurting". I do not know if it is something that is overlooked or misunderstood, but the reality that missionaries, pastors, and all faithful followers of Christ do experience "hurts". It could be the pain of witnessing someone they have spent years teaching and training in the truths of the Bible walk away from the church or make life choices which are contrary to Christ. Maybe the hurt comes from the verbal or even physical attacks focused on you as you try to preach and practice the ways of God. The hurt could also be the pain experienced as you are able to help others in their trials and temptations, yet are not able to help your own children as they choose not to listen to God or to their parents who are trying to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) Hurts do happen in the life of a follower of Christ and over the past month our family has been experiencing some hurts.
Praise be to God, none of the "hurts" we have been experiencing are life threatening, yet they still are painful and have again reminded us that it is through God's grace and His strength alone we are able to serve Him. I cannot go into detail on the "hurts" we have been experiencing but I will share with you that there are consequences to the sinful choices of others both in their life and in the lives of those around them. Sometimes those consequences can involve the loss of health, money, freedom, and even friendship and fellowship. In our situation, the sinful action of someone else has caused our family to experience the loss of some funds we had saved up to help build a house for Mam's parents in the village. We have also seen the "hurt" of watching people make harmful choices despite of the wisdom and warnings from God's Word which we have been patiently sharing with them. It is during these hard times and the hurtful actions of others that we can turn to passages like Romans 12:12 for hope. There we read, "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." We must continue to pray and trust in God during these difficult times, because He alone is faithful and able to work ALL THINGS for His glory and the good of those who love Him. So please join with us as we pray for God's wisdom and patience in handling these "hurts" in a gracious way.
Hope: The second biblical truth our family is growing in during the past month is hope. It is hard to admit that in yourself you have no power to change the attitude or actions of others, or even that you cannot change your own sinful heart. That is where the "hope" of the gospel assures us that through God's grace alone we are saved from our sins and also sanctified for His righteousness. We also have hope that though others may fail or abandon us, God will never leave nor forsake us. Even during the frustration of losing finances which you have been diligent in saving, there is still hope that God will still provide for all your needs and He will protect and provide for those who are His. It is often during times of "hurt" that "hope" seems so distant, but for those who place their trust in God and not in others, they will find true "hope" which is not only lasting but also is life changing.
Help: Part of the "hope" found in God, is that there is also "help" which He will offer to those who call out to Him. Sometimes that "help" will come in the form of peace or wisdom gained through the truths of the Bible and the comforts of prayer. Other ways God "helps" is through the counsel and care of the body of Christ. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14 we see an example of ways, God's church can "help" other believers. There we read, "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." Our family is grateful that during the hard times we just went through, there were fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who offered counsel and encouragement for us. It is nice to know that God designed the church to be a body which He will use to help minister to His children. Thank you for those who have been praying for us and encouraging our family over the past few weeks. We are also grateful for the "help" God provides through His body to care for the physical needs of His body as well. Mam has been saving money for the past 4 years so that she could help build a small house in the village for her parents. Her parents have never had their own house and as they are getting older, Mam is desiring to build them their own house with an extra room for our family so that we can spend more time in the village to help provide care for them as they are becoming more and more dependent upon outside help for their day to day needs. We thought we had saved enough to complete the building, but due to the actions of someone we hired to help with the house, almost a quarter of the funds Mam saved were lost to corruption. This was hard for Mam, but by God's grace we have been able to almost complete the whole house. We are at the finale stages but are lacking the necessary funds to complete it. So we are praying and looking for ways to raise the remaining $2000 needed to complete the house so that her parents can move in before the rainy season, which starts later this month. God has been gracious and all the money we have already used to build the house has been through the faithful giving of others and the faithful saving of Mam. So we ask you to please prayerfully consider giving a special financial gift which we can use to help Mam complete the house for her parents. If you are interested in contributing to help with the remaining expenses to complete the house for Mam's parents, please email me at dan.rutledge@gmail.com or heartsredeemed@gmail.com. Any gift would be greatly appreciated and faithfully used to complete the house which Mam's parents can live in during these latter years of their life. Both of them are at the age where they are not able to work in the fields any longer and are needing more constant care both medically and financially. Providing them a home will help bless them with a place to live securely and will provide an extra room available for our family so that we can come and visit with them more frequently as we seek to help care for them by doing work around their property to help insure they have enough food to eat everyday. Also it will be nice for Mam to be able to rest there during the times she takes her parents to the hospital or is caring for them when they are sick.
Honor: The fourth truth our family has been learning is that despite of the hurts we may suffer, there is hope for believers through the help of God and His body. This hope and help lead us to honestly and humbly turn our focus to God and in doing so we will honor His name and His works. May we always remember that our goal for all that we think, say, or do is to glorify God and in doing this it will lead to our good and the growth of God's church. May we continue to seek to praise God even during our problems, because in all things God's name will be honored and His people will find hope and help for their hurts. "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I trust that it was encouraging for you and also helped to inform you on what has been happening in our family over the past few weeks and also helped you see ways for which you can offer help for our family through your prayers and support.
May God continue to work in and through all of us for His glory and the growth of His church here in Thailand and throughout the world.
Your fellow servants of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:11-15
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