“Interruption from God is not a distraction. It is the call you have been waiting for your whole life.” – Dayana Shiplett
Recently, I was reading Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge. In one of the chapters they share the amazing story of their friend Jeanine. Jeanine has been a missionary with OMS for thirty-years. For the past fourteen years, she has poured out her life in Medellin, Colombia. Medellin is known for drug cartels, murders, and violence-a culture of death. It is a city that does not welcome Christianity. On a recent visit, she mentioned that sixty pastors are murdered a year. Jeanine chose to go to Medellin because she followed God’s call to teach Hebrew in a seminary which led to ministering in Colombia’s notorious prisons. Jeanine, was the only a woman walking into an overcrowded all male prison to bring the love of Jesus to all the hardened heart criminals.
Bellavista, is a prison located in Medellin, Colombia, housing 6,000 inmates which was only designed to hold 1,500. Jeanine said, “Up until (14) years ago when the Bible studies began, Bellavista was known for its violence there was an average of two murders a day within the prison walls… As lives are being transformed, the killings are slowing,” Recently, only 7 inmates were murdered from 1990 to 1997. Jeanine risks her life every day going to prison daily. However, the thought of death or the risk of death does not stop her from ministering. As she says, “Security is not found in the absence of danger, but in the presence of Jesus.”
I am inspired by Jeanine’s story, I cried. It reminds me of a similar testimony from a beautiful woman that I know named Jennifer Boakye, who I met in South Africa. I was so touched by this story because I think about people around the world who need the hope of Jesus. It is when we say, “Yes” to God that we get to see hope in this world.
Saying yes to God is not easy. It requires sacrificing one’s old self in order to walk into the unknown with Him. I know this because my life was interrupted by God many times. Here’s how:
- He invited me to leave Hollywood in order to follow Him.
- He invited me to leave my boyfriend who I lived with for 3 years to trust him with my life and on-going love.
- He invited me to leave my career in Psychology to get to know him more through the community and attend ministry school full time.
- He invited me to leave my dream job at a rehab center in order to go on a two-week Mission trip to South Africa.
- In South Africa, he invited me to come back and live there. I did, it changed my life forever.
- In South Africa, he invited me to help set women free by teaching a Ministry called, “Give Her Courage Worldwide.”
- He invited me to trust him after a near death car accident.
- He invited me to take care of my grandpa. In the past, we never got along. However, he healed my relationship with my grandpa. On my way to see my grandpa, I met my husband at the airport during my layover.
I am grateful for the times God has interrupted my life. It turned out better than anything I could have dreamed of. When God makes an invitation, it is scary. It seems impossible. But, all we have to do is say “Yes” and trust him.
Reflection Questions:
- Has God ever interrupted your life?
- What stops you from saying, “yes” to God?
- How would your life be different if you said “Yes” to God?
Moses 4:10-17
Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
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Dayana Shiplett 