To God Be the Glory, We are His Bride

The truth is missionary life is not as glamorous as some would think. It’s hard. This truth doesn’t make missionaries any more holy or closer to God. We’re still humans, striving to love and honor the Lord, like our counterparts serving Him in their home countries.

The truth is Ghana is HOT and HUMID. The climate is very hard and tiring on our weak American bodies. Not to mention the food or other cultural differences.

Two days in, and I find myself questioning, can I really do this for six months….for the rest of my life!?! Do I really want to?

Then I go to a church service and I remember why I am here. The joy of those who have found Jesus is overwhelming, and I want everyone in Ghana to experience that same joy. Then, the Lord decides to teach me a HUGE lesson.

During the church service, a young couple was getting married. At the beginning of the ceremony, the congregation stood and sang a Hymn:

To God be the Glory; Great things He hath done

So love He the world that He gave us His Son

Who yielded his life an atonement for sin

And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord; Praise the Lord;

Let the earth hear his Voice

Praise the Lord; Praise the Lord

Let the people rejoice;

O Come to the Father through Jesus the Son

And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.

As we sing this beautiful Hymn, the bride slowly walks down the aisle toward her groom. The symbolism is blowing my mind, and tears are streaming down my face. How fleshly I am to complain about the comforts of this world. Here right before me is a reminder of the Eternal purpose of it all.

The Father loves us so much! Jesus, our groom, gave his life, so we could become His Bride. He is waiting at the end of the aisle for His Bride, but His Bride isn’t ready. Some don’t even know about the sacrifice He made so we could be His.

That is why I am here. I want all of His Bride to be present on that day. Every Ghanaian. Every West African. Every European, Asian, American, etc…. We still have a lot of the world to tell about Jesus. We better get to it!

My “suffering” can only be considered a very mild discomfort compared to the suffering my Jesus did for me. How fleshly I am. How selfish I am! Lord, help me to keep Eternity in mind. Help me to remember to sacrifice you made for me, Your Bride.