Since I have been in Ethiopia, my former youth minister, Beth Evans, that I love very dearly and look up to, has been battling cancer. I received news this past week that she is in remission. PRAISE GOD!
Matt, our pastor, and Beth have been supportive of me for years. They have played a big part in the discipleship of my Christian faith. They encouraged me to pursue a mission opportunity in Australia and China when I was 19. After coming home from my 6 month mission trip, they offered me an intern position at the church working with Beth in the youth ministry. And from that internship I learned so much from them and their passion for God and church ministry.
There are so many things that cause me to look up to Beth, but the one thing that I admire most is her faith and her commitment to the Lord. As a young girl she committed her life in service to God, and she has never let that waiver. She has such a beautiful heart. She cares so much for the students in her student ministry and the members of Rock Bridge, and that was evident to them by the way the church rose up to pray for her and support her in her time of need. Out of everything I have missed since being in Ethiopia, seeing the way the church cared for Matt and Beth is what I have hated to miss out on most.
However, they were two of my biggest cheerleaders when I told them about my opportunity to teach in Ethiopia. They backed me 100% and shared in my joy of having the privilege to serve in Ethiopia, which is a special place to both of them as well. They wanted me to be here, and I want to make them proud.
I think about her and pray for her often. Prayer was the only thing I could do for her being across the world. My friends and colleagues here in Addis have been praying for her and asking about her often as well. There have been classes of students at the school praying for her daily. There was rejoicing when I shared with the whole staff the news of her recovery. Glory be to God!
I want to share however, the biggest lesson I learned through all of this. I had been praying for her for a couple of months, and I am ashamed to say that my prayers were weak. I was doing the ‘holy’ thing of praying Your will be done in this situation. I prayed for God to get the glory no matter what happened. There were times where the news seemed to look hopeless, but I still prayed Your will be done. God revealed to me that He will get more glory from impossible circumstances, and that He did! On the day that she received her bone marrow transplant, I was prodded by the Spirit to pray for her right then. I started to pray my ‘Your will be done’ prayer when God reprimanded me. I heard very clearly from God, “Why would it not be My will to heal her?” It took me back, but I realized I had been wrong and my faith had been weak. My prayers changed after that!
I was not surprised when I heard the news, but I was amazed at God’s faithfulness. I’ve been praising God for how he worked in Beth’s life. But I have also praised God in how He taught me to have greater faith, and that the tones of my prayers do matter! I am interested to know how Beth’s faith and God’s miracle has affected others as well. It is so like our God to take a situation of impossible circumstances and teach thousands of people about His grace and mercy.
Beth told me that she was encouraged by a verse she read on my Facebook page. It is my favorite verse found in Romans 4:20-21 “Yet she did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in her faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.” Although this scripture is referring to Abraham, I believe it is also true about Beth Evans! She is a mighty woman of faith, and we can all learn something from her.
There are so many things I have experienced in Ethiopia that I wish I could share with her. I can’t wait to see her when I come home, and tell her all about my adventures here. But until then, I will praise God for the pivotal role she has played in my life and the miracles He has worked on her behalf!
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