When All Hope Seems Lost, Can You Believe Christ Is Enough?

Last month, I started the story of a modern-day Adoniram Judson, who waited seven long and painful years before seeing the first convert in the people group he and his family served. Here’s how that couple came to faith.

Adam said, “By God’s grace, after six years of sharing the gospel, I came across an elderly couple. I shared the gospel with them. Do you know what they said? They actually said no. I was rejected yet again.

“I went back a year later to that same area, and no one wanted to talk to me, but there was that one house where I had shared the gospel the previous year. I went and shared again. Joyfully, they said yes this time. They wanted to trust Christ.

“I said, ‘No, you misunderstood me. I want you to repent. You know those idols? I want you to tear them down.’ After years of rejection, I didn’t know what to do with someone who wanted to trust Christ.”

God provided the words, and Adam led the couple to faith in Christ.

Adam was curious. “You rejected me the first time I came. What happened in a year?” he asked.

The man replied, “My daughter lives in another city. We had lost touch with one another. I called her after you came because it was just the weirdest thing that a foreigner comes up and starts talking to me about his religion. My daughter married a guy that was a Christian. She came to Christ through her husband. When I called and described everything you said, my daughter said, ‘That’s my God. That’s who I believe in. You should believe in Him too.’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t think so. That’s not what we do.’ And she said, ‘OK, if that foreigner comes back and shares the gospel, you will know my God is real and He wants you to know Him.’”

So, when Adam came back a year later, the man knew God was real and wanted him to know Christ.

Our emphasis theme this year is What Joy! Let me ask you this:

Can you say, “What Joy!” in the midst of your tears, anger, heartache, and rejection?

Can you say, “What Joy!” when you are working your heart out for the kingdom? When you are doing everything you possibly can and the results just aren’t coming?

Can you say, “What Joy!” when others are enjoying seemingly incredible success and you’re not?

Could you say, “What Joy!” for seven long years without seeing any fruit from your hard labor?

Yes, you could.

You have to get to the point where you believe Christ is enough. He is enough, and He is worthy of every heartache and sacrifice.

Father,

As WMU leaders, we come from an incredible lineage of people who endured overwhelming challenges but believed at their core You are enough. Give us that kind of faith.

In Jesus’ name, amen.