I’ve been back in Thailand for almost six weeks now. Thats crazy! Jesus has been up to some wild stuff over here and its thrilling to be a part of it. Its thrilling to be able love His sweet children so deeply and intentionally everyday. However, to be perfectly honest, these past six weeks have been tough! Its thing after thing here- and I’m learning that its kind of inevitable- these types of incidents are going to keep occurring due to the work we are involved with. Its inescapable. So instead of wishing the little things throughout the week would go away, Jesus and I are working on better ways to deal with the stress and how to continue to function even though I live in a constant flow of trauma. And what I have found to be strengthening is joy.
I began my journey from joy to strength a couple months ago, but I had no idea how crucial it would be here in Thailand. Let me say one thing first – joy and happiness are completely different things. In my experience, happiness comes from circumstances in life, but joy comes from contentment in Jesus. Contentment in knowing Jesus will never fall off of His throne. Trusting that He has not surrendered any one of these individuals over to the enemy. Holding onto the hope of glory. Celebrating that Jesus is King & claiming His victory for each person we see or interact with, whether they are ready to receive it or not. our circumstances here might not be the greatest, but Jesus and His promises are, so thats where we find our joy. Its knowing that yah, maybe the bar girl I’ve been praying for non-stop is still not choosing freedom, but instead of staying there and becoming utterly discouraged- I can choose to rest in the knowledge that she hasn’t left Jesus’ hands and that He has a perfect plan for her. This joy is seeing a child be exploited right in front of my eyes- but fighting even harder for her freedom because Jesus has already won the war. Its students ending up back in the red light districts, but not losing hope because we have 10 students chasing freedom in our classroom everyday.
“…for the joy of the Lord is your strength” Nehemiah 8: 10
Now its not forgetting about these individuals, or losing hope- instead its the complete opposite, its fighting harder, knowing that Jesus has not forgotten any one of them, and its handing over each one to His trustworthy hands. Its knowing that we cannot change a thing- we are not the one rescuing them, Jesus is. Our job is to love them exactly where they are at and I think its the best job on the planet. People tell me a lot “Julianne you just need to stay positive & look on the bright side” But this joy is not pretending that these things don’t completely tear us apart, instead its resting in the hope that Jesus will redeem each situation. That Jesus is still King over all of it. Its acknowledging & feeling the pain, hurt, doubts & all, but still believing that Jesus has greater plans and that He has not stopped working towards their complete freedom. Its genius really, because its what gives us the strength to keep going & fight harder knowing there is still so much God has planned for this city.
I’ll make it because He carries me. He sustains me.
and joy looks different everywhere. In America it looked like church ALL the time! Thats what gave me joy and helped me persevere. Here it looks like dance parties- lots of them. & coffee dates & game nights & lip sync battles & long talks that lead to sleepovers. Its finding joy in the small things like Coca Cola & chili chips & motorbikes & the noodle lady. Its celebrating the small victories like having a good cry with Jesus or eating our veggies – while pressing in with hope for the bigger ones that are still unseen. This joy is deep down in the soul. Its something that cannot be taken away from us- its knowing the battle has already been won & that that can never be undone. Its rejoicing over the fact that Jesus is King- always and forevermore. Dancing because He loves us & fighting because He loves them. Its crying together and laughing together & worshipping with other nations. Its acknowledging that a lot of things happen here that suck real bad and sitting in that pain for a while, but then saying “ok Jesus so what are we gonna do about this?” Its finding strength and perseverance in the simple joy that Jesus is Lord and He is good.
joy-strength
its the only way we’ll survive here