Building the relationship in Trust.

"So many people have problems knowing God's will, plan and voice because they have not yet allowed God to love them or do not trust that they can be loved. The introduction to Jesus is so important because until you meet Him you cannot believe that you are so loved."

Anthony asks: Meeting Jesus is the beginning, and yet today I know His love in a deeper way than when I first met him 12 years ago. I have 12 years of a relationship with Him. Back then, I knew that God wanted to lead somewhere that involved me stepping out in faith, and I didn't want to. I was really attached to certain worldly things, but even more so afraid of letting go. I was in that stage for 10 years. Then 2 years ago, I stepped out in faith.

I am a foreign missionary, 27 years old. Married to Holly for 2 1/2 years. I left everything behind and went to missions 2 years ago this may. We have 2 children Elijah John the Baptist, 16 months old, and Moriah Anna, 4 weeks old. We are waiting to go back into missions after coming home to have Moriah in Lafayette, LA. Elijah was born in missions. For the last 2 years God has been providing totally for us.

People that hear our story are often surprised, and challenged. They see the cliff that we stepped off. They are grateful that we did it, blessed by our witness. And then they often start rationalizing why they would never be called to do what we have done, how they could never live without this or that part of their life. I don't believe that everyone is called to full time foreign missions, but surely He wants us each to step out in faith. In their rationalization I can sometimes see the same fear of stepping out that I had to overcome, and still face as I continue to live and support my family on divine providence.

Mark, after the Introduction, have you ever been afraid of letting go of things, or of stepping out in faith? If so how did Jesus teach you to overcome that fear. What is the best way to build that relationship up so that I can trust Jesus more and to follow Him where ever he is leading my family?