WHO’S AT THE HELM?
JEREMY FONTENOT | AUGUST 25, 2020
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
When my wife (Danielle) and I left America for southeast Asia in 2007 to become missionaries, all we knew was that the Lord had enticed us with His will for our lives and an opportunity for an adventure of a lifetime. With the wind of faith in our sails, we set out not knowing what would lie ahead of us, only knowing the One who would go before us. There were no promises of positions or provisions or even where we would lay our heads at night. All we knew was that our first stop had to be in Singapore where we needed to meet up with a missions group called MWC (Moved With Compassion).
Culture shock, which usually sets in at around the 21-day mark, began immediately as we deboarded from the Boeing 777 jet airliner. My initial thought was that Singapore looked like a concrete jungle with tall highrises, above-ground trains, and malls on seemingly every corner. Danielle and I had both grown up in small quaint towns. Our very first night’s sleep was short-lived as jet-lag caused us to awaken at 2:00 am. Overwhelmed, Danielle and I cried together and asked ourselves the question, “Who tricked us into coming to southeast Asia?” Immediately, hysterical laughter followed as the joy of the Lord flooded our hearts. True joy comes not from comforts in life but the Comforter who is a never-ending well springing with life and besides, Jesus was the One who led us here.
True joy comes not from comforts in life but the Comforter who is a never-ending well springing with life…
Within a span of four days, 
we journeyed north of Singapore into the country of Malaysia to the capital city Kuala Lumpur. Honestly, my stomach by this time was nauseous from the pungent smells Asian foods generated. Being nauseated from Asian food was short-lived as I quickly adapted and now love its distinct flavors. One evening, we had visited a pastor’s home and planned to do something special for dinner: journey out to the local wet market, purchase food, and then return to share the collective meal together. By this time culture shock was really setting in and I couldn’t find anything recognizable except cucumbers which was, of course, a staple food for me growing up in southern Louisiana.
When we returned from the market I walked into the kitchen, slipping pass the older women working and grabbed a knife. I didn’t want anyone to put some kind of special fish sauce on my cucumbers or cut it differently from what I was accustomed to. After I prepared my cucumbers I walked out with my bowl in hand and sat in the corner of the room. My wife asked if I would share but I quickly rejected that notion and dug in. In the midst of culture shock, I had my “safe” food and no one was getting any of it. I look back and laugh at myself.
Within the next week and a half, the Lord directed our steps to live in Johor Bahru, Malaysia where we spent the next four years ministering as youth pastors, discipling Iranian Muslims attending university in Malaysia, ministering in a local orphanage as well as preaching in the countries of Singapore and Indonesia. The Lord called us, we made our plans and went, but He directed our steps. The Lord never gives us a complete picture of what He calls us to do which necessitates a close intimate walk with Him to fulfill His assignment for our lives. We may see a “big picture” so to speak but details typically elude us. Paul said it this way, “For now we see through a glass darkly.” (See 1 Corinthians 13:12)
The Lord called us, we made our plans and went, but He directed our steps.
But even though we see through a glass darkly never let that deter you from what God has called you to do. Ephesians 3:20 promises this, “He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” Eventually, the Lord redirected our steps to Cambodia for 8 years where we planted two village churches and one international church touching a multitude of nations. What happened there exceeded our wildest imaginations!
When the Lord gives you a vision write it down but write it with a pencil. Because with the Lord at the helm He may accomplish the vision radically different from how you imagined.
< Older Post
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email
Share on whatsapp