Alone on the Water

I was sitting at the dining room table this evening, looking out over the lake. The water was calm, one lone duck was swimming across the water. When it was in the middle of the lake another duck came along side from behind and they swam to the other side together.

It was a beautiful sight, yet it brought reminders of life. How often have I been on the waters alone! I chose to go alone. This can happen in mission work. We venture out, to do good, but then fall on our face. Let me give an example. When Patrick and I first started mission work in 1989, things didn't go as we thought it would. We knew God had called us to Haiti. We thought we knew what we were to do. But!

We were not connected strongly with others as a team to help us. We were independent missionaries. Things seemed to go from bad to worse. We were selling fruits and vegetables to other missionaries so we could have food on the table. Patrick was teaching in the Haitian/American Institute. God allowed us to suffer. This was a testing ground.

Then it happened. God sent a prayer partner into our lives. Then a book. I had always wanted to read the book "Grace Awakening" by Charles Swindoll. I read the book, but I only remember on paragraph toward the end of the book. Maybe it would be proper to say I remember a phrase. This was the thought—God never expected his people to work alone. If we work alone, then if there is success we take the glory. But if His children work together and there is success, then no one person can take the glory. God gets the glory! Then I understood.

Soon God provided a prayer team, support group, and an organization with whom we were accountable. Within a month, things began to change. God is so good in wanting us to work together as His children. The work load is lighter, and the work is done better.

This is to say, if you plan to swim across the lake, get some other ducks to swim with you. Then give God the glory for any success you have.

God bless you.