“Perseverance is a lowly virtue whereby mediocrity
achieves an inglorious success!” Ambrose Bierce
While attending Bible School, I met my husband and we were married a year later. We had never heard of tribal people who had never had an opportunity to even hear the name of Jesus Christ! Can you imagine? God challenged us to take His Name to them! My husband responded immediately to the need before him. Yes, he would go! He stood up quickly, as the seasoned visiting missionary, challenged the crowd for tribal missions; however, I stood frozen with my mouth wide open, in shock! I could not believe his independent, instant response. God had work to do in my stubborn heart. My self-consumed willfulness held me captive!
I was not equipped to live in the jungle…I hate spiders! It took three days travel to get to this Indian village. One and half days journey by banana boat (that’s right we slept on wooden benches) following the coastline, arriving in a remote small town to make a connection for the last ten hour day trek upriver in an open dugout canoe! Let’s see, I have two babies less than three years of age fighting the rapids during rainy season! Surely, there was someone in that crowd of churchgoers more mature than I am that is willing and ready to go…not me! I, fearfully, contemplated another 24 hours before I silently knelt with my husband and acknowledged God’s beckoning whisper to submit to His will and His very clear call to GO!
As a young student, untested missionary, wife and new mother I stepped out in blind obedience. The unknown was my constant companion, as was my all-knowing God with His directing will and promises. “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, so shall your offspring be. Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead…since he was about a hundred years old…and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. YET he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God being fully persuaded that GOD HAD POWER TO DO WHAT HE PROMISED.”(Romans 4:18-21)
For over 50 years now, God’s pursuing love has driven us to proclaim the name of Christ. First, to those living in the remote jungles of Panama, “in the farthest corners of the earth” (Psalm 65:8), and today, to those living in the asphalt jungles of the United States.
We have counted it a privilege to walk day-by-day wrapped in His strength, following where He leads us. Joyfully persevering has become a fulfilling way of life… His receiving the glory is our reward…
What are you facing today that seems unbelievably overwhelming and impossible?
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
