Hope Through Hardship

Hardship and hopelessness – two struggles I’ve seen too much in Africa, especially here in Zimbabwe.

When locals find out we are from America, we are typically bombarded with questions. People are longing for security and clinging to the little hope that they have. Some of them think they would be able to find that peace and security in possessions or people (especially us as Americans). Some of them are content with where they are and hopeful of what’s to come. And some of them don’t think they will ever find peace and security.

I wish I could give every person I talk to money, clothes, food to feed their families, and clean water. I wish I could pay for their children to go to school. I wish I could buy everything they are selling at the market to help them make ends meet. But I can’t.

I physically can’t do those things, but what I can do is give people hope, love them, pray for them, and share Jesus with them.

Katie Davis, a missionary in Uganda, once said – “I’ve learned that I will not change the world, Jesus will do that. I can, however, change the world for one person. So I keep stopping and loving one person at a time, because that is my call as a Christian.”

I can’t change the world. I can’t provide people with all of their needs. But I can love people and pray that that love changes the world for them.

Have you ever felt really discouraged because you wanted to make a difference, but you didn’t see immediate results? And then, maybe someone said something like this to you: “you planted a seed and that’s what matters”. UGH. That’s not my favorite thing to hear, but that’s a solid reminder I need so often, especially here in Africa.

Some days I wonder why I’m here.

Some days I feel like I’m not making a difference.

Some days I wish I would’ve followed the norm.

Often times we try to take the lead and carry things onto completion, when we need to step back and let God take control. Sometimes we need to accept the fact that planting a seed is all we can do in the moment and trust that the harvest will come, in His perfect timing.

Life is tough for the people of Zimbabwe right now and hope is the only thing we can give them, but hope is all they need.

Hope for the future.

Hope for healing.

Hope for change.

Hope for peace.

Hope for security.

Hope for their families.

Hope in Jesus.

Life isn’t just tough in Africa. Life is tough in North America, South America, Asia, Australia, Antarctica, and Europe. It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, what you have, or who you are – without Jesus, hardships are hopeless. With Jesus there is abundant hope, especially through hardship.

Choose love. Choose hope. Choose Him.

love & prayers,

Amber