Being a missionary that is sent to a foreign land is truly a high calling. But what about the family and dear friends that stay behind? How can they faithfully send their missionary loved ones off, knowing they’ll be so far away? First of all, it cannot be overstated that for loved ones who have stayed behind, their son, daughter, grandchildren moving halfway around the globe can/will in many cases bring forth a period of grieving. Grief comes in all different kinds of forms, shapes, and sizes.
You may be one who has actually experienced the pain and joy of staying behind. One of the hardest, yet most beautiful things to realize is the fact that the decision to GO is not about you or me. It’s not about how WE back home feel about the events that are unfolding. This whole decision and everything that goes with it has to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ being taken to the ends of the Earth. It’s about God’s sovereign plan and purposes for the lives of our loved ones being called into missions ministry.
So, how can we pray for the dear family and/or friends who have sent their loved ones to the field? We can pray they understand that they too have a high calling as the SENDERS. What a joy it can be to know that your son, daughter, grandchild, or dear friend is learning a new language and a new culture, and is finding their place on a local national team to do ministry work to powerfully change the hearts and minds of the people through the Gospel. This needs to excite us who stay behind beyond all comprehension. Instead of feeling like we’ll never get to see our loved ones again, we can pray for the Gospel to ooze out of every fiber of their being, so that more people will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for (Your Missionary’s family and friends). I pray that they would pray with joy in their hearts to know that their loved ones are speaking Your name to those who desperately need to hear it. Give them comfort in the times that they miss (Your Missionary). Thank You for the technology to be connected the way we can be now. I pray that (Your Missionary) would understand the magnitude of how much their loved ones love and cherish them. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
