Responding to “Losses”

While Sky and I were in the States we went to the Korean embassy in DC to apply for a marriage visa which would allow me to live in Korea for a year. I had gotten this visa before with ease, but it had expired and I had to go through the application process again. To our surprise, though, the application was much more difficult this time around and we were told we needed documents from a local hospital and a criminal background report. We got everything we were told to get (which took a few days, a lot of energy, and cost a few hundred dollars), but when we returned to the embassy the worker there told us that the documents were all wrong and gave us a really hard time. It turns out he had told us wrong and hadn’t given us enough details. He blamed my wife for this saying it was her fault (?!?!), which was ridiculous because only he knew the details (none of the details he gave were on the website for the marriage visa). We ended up having to leave America without the visa because we didn’t have enough time to get the remaining documents and get my passport processed. This was all pretty frustrating, but we knew a lot of it was Satan trying to steal our joy and get us down. The last embassy visit, when the worker was especially rude to us and we realized we wouldn’t be able to get the visa in time, happened to be the day before we ministered at a college retreat. Sky and I had to let things go from the embassy, forgive the worker in our prayers, and focus on God’s goodness. We kept thankful, and the retreat ended up being powerful and one of the big highlights of our trip home.

In Numbers 21:1-3 while the Israelites were traveling through the wilderness toward the Promised Land they were unexpectedly attacked by the king of Arad and his army. Not only were they attacked, but  they lost the battle and some of their people were captured and taken away. If I had been an Israelite at that time I imagine I would have seriously questioned if God’s favor was present or not. The Israelites knew they would be entering a land filled with giants, but before they even got there they were blindsided by this random king of Arad.  Thankfully the Israelites didn’t let the initial loss get them down. Instead the Israelites responded with faith and pledged to God that they would destroy all of Arad and make everything within it an offering to God. God listened to their prayer and then blessed them with complete victory. What looked initially like loss, confusion, and fear turned into favor, victory, and power.

Some things in life we just can’t understand. Even Isaac, Abraham’s son, kept losing wells he had rightfully dug to greedy neighbors (Genesis 26:17-33). Isaac, the chosen son of the great Abraham, seemed to have no favor and kept “losing” what was rightfully his. But Isaac chose not to curse or to pout over the strife, but instead he continued to move on trusting that God would bless him and provide for him. And indeed, in time, God appeared to him and blessed him. Soon Isaac was able to hold a feast for those who had been his enemies, make peace with them, and dig greater wells that he would never have to give up.

Isaiah 55:9 – As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Sky and I know my visa situation will eventually be taken care of. I’m on a tourist visa now and we will leave the country within 90 days to try and get the visa again (we have to be out of the country in order to get it). We know things will work out well for us in the end, both in this situation and in the many more to come. Some struggles/losses can’t be explained, but we know in the end God is able to work all things for our good. He is faithful!