A bigger plate
In 2014, I was a single missionary living in the African bush. At one stage, every other leader of the ministry I was working with had to travel out of the country, and I was singlehandedly leading a local staff, missions staff, hosting international missions teams, facilitating all ministry and running the missions base. At that same time, I heard the popular speaker, Christine Caine, share her amazing life’s accomplishments. She said when she started to feel like she had too much on her plate, she’d ask God for a bigger plate. I started to pray that same prayer, and God was so faithful. I can still remember what it felt like to go to bed every night during that season, exhausted and amazed that He had done it again that day.
Only months after that, Lifa came to live with me full time, and Chris came into our lives. We began learning how to become a cross-cultural family and relocated to an entirely different mission field. It made my initial answered prayers for a “bigger plate” seem like Happy Meals!
Right now, I can’t imagine my plate getting any bigger or fuller. Yet there’s more! So much more and so much good! But sometimes that can seem really overwhelming. Anybody with me?
Here’s my plan: Instead of looking around me at all of the roles, responsibilities and the never-ending to-do’s, I’m going to look up at the God “who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand”, “held the dust of the earth in a basket”, and “weighted the mountains on the scales and the hills in balance”. (Isa 40:12) He’s a limitless buffet God, and I’m over here worrying about my portion sizes!
Instead of asking for a another bigger plate, I’m going to focus on the One who gives strength when I’m weary, increases my power when I’m weak, and renews my strength again and again. I do not grow weary when I worship. I grow weary when I worry. What a relief, and what fun to celebrate our unlimited, sovereign and loving God!
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV