David Livingstone, one of the first missionaries to Africa, walked almost 30,000 miles in his lifetime to share the love of God. His wife died at a very young age, and he faced opposition from men who were strong Calvinists that infamously mocked him by telling him that if God wanted to save the heathen he didn’t need Livingstone. Refusing to sit idly by Livingstone poured out his life unto death to share about the message about God’s grace on the Dark Continent. You can read more about his life at Cleveland's Euclid Avenue Barnes and Nobles.
In his diary he wrote, “Send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever me from any tie but the tie that binds me to Your service and to Your heart.”
In World War II Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom were arrested by the Nazi’s for hiding Jewish people in their home. The two women were sent to Ravensbruck prison, a horrible concentration camp.
Though they suffered greatly there, they ministered hope and healing to other prisoners. They prayed for the other captives and taught them about the love of God.
Eventually, Betsie became very ill. She was taken to the prison hospital, with Corrie beside her, trying to keep her ill sister from seeing all the dead bodies around them.
Sitting on the stretcher, Betsie told Corrie in a strained whisper that she “must tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here.”
Wherever you find yourself, know that there is no pit that he is not deeper still.
Zig Ziglar says, “There are two ways to climb an oak tree. You can climb it, or you can sit on an acorn and wait for it to grow.” It is an apt picture of moving forward in our growth, or idly sitting by waiting for something to change. In the end as has famously been said, we need to be the change we want to see in the world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us what we can be.” Tired of the mediocre life that so many live? Then embrace the challenges and trials and passion of day to day life with a sense of purpose rather than cynicism and disdain. Let your life be an example for others to follow, be the change you want to see.
So many miss what life is about because they don’t understand that stepping out and risking our comfort is where growth happens. It is like the leadership plaque that reads:
Don’t look—you might see.
Don’t listen—you might hear.
Don’t think—you might learn.
Don’t make a decision—you might be wrong.
Don’t walk—you might stumble.
Don’t run—you might fall.
Don’t live—you might die.
Choose today to reject fear, choose today to live with passion.
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