I have also created my own author page on facebook (you can like/follow it here: https://www.facebook.com/DavidGlennJohnson ), my own Amazon author page in anticipation of the end of year release of my novels (you can like/follow it here:
https://www.amazon.com/author/davidgjohnson ) and been working on getting myself and Amy through all of the preparations needed for our turnaround to career status and hopeful return to the States in January 2014, appointment in May 2014, and return to China in June 2014. To that end I have been tutoring Amy through Systematic Theology 201 and 202 courses via Liberty Online (she has passed both with a 4.0, I'm so proud of her) and been lining things up for our family health checks in Hong Kong at the end of the month. Barring any unforeseen surprises during the health checks, we should be pretty much set for our transition and return by the beginning of September with only minor "check marks" on a few things left to handle after that.
While with the actual work here in our city of Zhangye, many of the recent doors that had opened seem to be closing. We still have some steady discipleship going on, but we have prayed that God would show us when we come back whether we should return to Zhangye or go back to the much larger city of Lanzhou. Several of the teams who were in Lanzhou have left the field, for various reasons, leaving the city of around 4.5 million people underrepresented. It seems that God is telling us that the work He meant for us to do here is done, and that a return to Lanzhou seems to be the path.
So why did I just dump our life story of the past few months onto this blog? Where is the inspirational message? Where is the biblical teaching? The lesson I wanted to share is this: Be ready to follow wherever God leads.
As Americans we tend to like to see the whole picture, weigh all the angles and possibilities, and then decide on the course of our future. God doesn't expect His followers to work that way. First of all, even when we think we have all the facts, we can't see all ends. Only He can. Second, he tells us that He will be "a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). That description is of a lantern or lamp which will illuminate the next few steps in front of you, but won't help at all in seeing the end of the road. We have to trust what He shows us, take the steps we CAN see, and depend on Him for the rest. In summary, we have to grow comfortable with following God's lead.
On our own adventure, for example, I knew God was leading me to Seminary and to work in ministry, but I couldn't see how that was possible with a wife who was still a practicing Buddhist. I trusted Him and took the steps without knowing how in the world this was going to work. Ten months later, God called Amy to Him, and Ariel had already expressed faith, so our whole family was now on the path together. Following God's lead we wound up in the right place, whereas following my own might have led us somewhere completely different.
When He called me to missions, Amy's heart did not share that call. I proceeded to follow God's lead without any idea if He was calling me to leave my family behind and go to China alone or what. It seemed impossible. Then, on a short term trip when Amy accompanied me to Hainan, China, God opened her eyes to the need and desire for missions and called her heart as well. Again, by following God instead of my own leading, we wound up exactly where He wanted us to be.
Now I have this burning desire in my heart to write. I do it in my spare time as our mission work here still takes top priority, but much of the groundwork was already in place long before I even became a believer. God has also gifted me with words, so the first two novels I submitted to a publisher were picked up right away. Those books are now due out at the end of 2013. Where this will go from here, or what part God has for writing in the future is unclear, but I know He has opened the door for me to write for now, and has made a way for it to be my hobby while not detracting from our primary work as missionaries. He has even engineered the timing of the books coming out to coincide with our time back in the States so I can help promote the books while we are home via book signings and speaking engagements. Once again, I didn't see clearly where this could ever be possible, but God has shown me the path and by following God's lead He has brought a dream of mine for over 30 years into a reality.
None of these things would have been possible if I had trusted what I "knew" and followed my own sensibilities. Our life is what it is today only because we were willing to step forward without knowing what was at the end of the road and just follow God's lead wherever it went. Being in control is one of the hardest things for most people to let go of, but I can assure you God has shown me time and time and time again that if I am willing to just keep pedaling and let Him worry about steering, the blessings and opportunities and experiences are just waiting there for us on the path He has chosen. Let God drive, and just content yourselves with following God's lead, and you will not only find your journey less stressful, but you will find yourself less sure of what is going to happen but more confident that it all will work out than you have ever been in your life.
Blessings and peace until next time,
David G. Johnson with Amy and Ariel in Asia!
