Unsettled

A question was asked today on Anne Jackson’s blog…would you die for someone’s freedom?  My answer to this question is, I believe, the root of my unsettledness.  

I remember being seven years old, sitting on the olive green wool rug in my room when I first had a dream of being a missionary.  I’ve had conversation after conversation with numerous people about this dream.  I was told that I should go to nursing school so that I’d have a reason to be on the mission field.  I’ve been told that I should teach English abroad.  I’m not a huge fan of…the *stuff* that is involved in nursing, so that advice went in one ear and out the other.  I love to write…but teaching English really isn’t something that I’ve ever been passionate about.

Recently, my awareness of the gross injustice of human trafficking, the sex trade and child slavery has become acute.   Until the past three weeks or so, I didn’t know that there was so much information.  I didn’t know the enormity of the situation.  Frankly, I didn’t think that I could do anything.

Today, though, when I read Anne’s blog, God reminded me of one of the first scriptures that was seared into my heart.  Isaiah 61:1 says:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, 
       because the LORD has anointed me 
       to preach good news to the poor. 
       He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 
       to proclaim freedom for the captives 
       and release from darkness for the prisoners

That scripture has held me together during the most difficult of times.  Until today, everytime I’ve read it, I feel like my hands are bound, like I’m living my life less than God intended me to live it.  All of a sudden, it made sense.

Another scripture that has held me afloat during the darkest, quietest times is Isaiah 49:5-7

 

5 And now the LORD says— 
       he who formed me in the womb to be his servant 
       to bring Jacob back to him 
       and gather Israel to himself, 
       for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD 
       and my God has been my strength-

 6 he says: 
       “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant 
       to restore the tribes of Jacob 
       and bring back those of Israel I have kept. 
       I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, 
       that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

 7 This is what the LORD says— 
       the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel— 
       to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, 
       to the servant of rulers: 
       “Kings will see you and rise up, 
       princes will see and bow down, 
       because of the LORD, who is faithful, 
       the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

 

God has chosen me for something rather daunting.  I don’t know exactly where to begin…but I will type away on this laptop about human trafficking and child slavery to raise awareness until God shows me what is next. 

Lord God, let me be your hands, your feet, your servant to the women and children trapped in slavery.