Accepting the Assignment

In the summer of 1999, Erik and I traveled to Fort Collins, Colorado, to attend a six-week cross-cultural ministry training. The first weekend we were there, I discovered that I was pregnant. As we stared, pale faced, at the positive sign, Erik optimistically asked, “How accurate are these things?” Um . . . 99 percent? We were pregnant.

In the summer of 1999, Erik and I traveled to Fort Collins, Colorado, to attend a six-week cross-cultural ministry training. The first weekend we were there, I discovered that I was pregnant. As we stared, pale faced, at the positive sign, Erik optimistically asked, “How accurate are these things?” Um . . . 99 percent? We were pregnant. 

I had not planned on being pregnant the summer before we moved overseas. Making the transition to being a mom was not part of my first-year plan. I was supposed to learn a new culture and language and team and ministry. We were going to be team leaders for the first time. That seemed like enough transition to navigate already. How was I supposed to do all that with a baby? As my mother-in-law put it, “Wow, Gina. Your first year as a missionary and your first year as a mom. Wow.”

Yeah, wow. I had no idea what I was about to go through.

All I knew was that this was not the plan. I honestly contemplated, briefly, that this might be the one time in history God made a mistake. Like, He looked away for a second and, oops, I got pregnant. (I know, I know.) I just couldn’t see how becoming a mom would be a good transition in my life at that time.

As I lay awake night after night that summer, crying into my pillow and wondering how on earth this was going to work, God brought the words of a song to mind, a song based on Psalm 16:

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” . . .

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. . . .

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. (vv. 1–2, 5–6, 9 NIV 1984)

That song ran over and over in my mind. God promised me something through it. He told me that this was His assignment for me. And that it was good. It was just the right amount for me at that season of life. It was from the hands of a good and sovereign God who loves me and knows me and gives me what is best for me. His timing is perfect. His plans come at just the right time—not necessarily my timing, but the timing chosen by One infinitely wiser than me. 

God was asking me to rest secure in it.

I essentially responded, “Prove it.”

And God responded: Challenge accepted.

I could write for hours about how God has proven the goodness of that assignment. We experienced His timing as I went into labor just hours before our new friends Dan and Jenny arrived in our new country, needing a place to stay. Their son, Jackson, only three months old, became Ethan’s best friend (and they are close to this day). Dan and Jenny, also new team leaders on a nearby college campus, became our companions as we walked through the lessons of culture, language, ministry, and parenting. We did life together.

Was it a hard transition to being a mom? One of the toughest I have made. But in the back of my mind was the assurance, “This is for my good.” It was true then, and it continues to be true.

We can navigate the hard and make peace with change when we are confident that every part of transition—every moment, interaction, emotion, challenge, surprise—is from the hands of a loving Father. He calls us to rest in His goodness and sovereignty. Everything is meant to help us grow.

Often what stumps us in a transition, what keeps us from diving in and embracing it wholeheartedly, is that we don’t receive it as an assignment from Him. And not an ordinary assignment but a “given from the hands of the One who loves you more than life, who works all things for your good” kind of assignment.

Granted, it’s not always easy to see it that way. I vividly remember standing on a street corner in Asia with three-month-old Ethan strapped to my chest, trying to wave down taxi after taxi in my effort to get to the hospital for a checkup. At least five taxis I hailed were taken by some stranger standing beside me with no compassion for a new mother. Through gritted teeth, I repeated over and over, “This is assigned. This is assigned. This is assigned.”

But embracing our assignment doesn’t mean white-knuckled, gritted-teeth acceptance.

We find solid ground when we fall on His goodness.

—Adapted from Making Peace with Change, written by Gina Brenna Butz. Used by permission of Our Daily Bread Publishing®, Grand Rapids MI. All rights reserved. Further distribution is prohibited without written permission from Our Daily Bread Publishing® at permissionsdept@odb.org

34 Responses

  1. Trusting God , knowing that he has a magnificent plan without any doubts is a beautiful thing but hard for many to accept the assignment that comes within . With your story I was reminded when I was assigned to be a mother( a guardian ) to my brothers children after his passing 13 years ago , I myself (17) was carrying a child , that would soon come into this world.
    It was hard for me to understand at a young age what my purpose was and its meaning . It has been a true blessing to have been chosen , he is never wrong to give us an assignment with a great purpose. Years later I am here feeling tremendously proud and compensated for going through that " test " I call and passing it over and over ! My reward has been the most wonderful thing , to see the human beings that were lost at that time , which had fear in their hearts, felt hopeless ,and most of all distraught by loosing their father. They now have become adults with bright futures ahead that I can see and rejoice with God’s glory and understand his purpose to my assignment.

  2. Your story brought to my mind this quote from Charles Spurgeon: "O, let my trembling soul be still, and trust Thy wise, Thy holy will. I cannot Lord, Thy purpose see, yet all is well since ruled by Thee." My husband and I have our assignment. We provide care to his dad and his dad’s wife (not my husband’s mother) who both have dementia. Dad has taken a mostly sweet path in his illness, but his wife has taken the path of contentiousness, anger/rage, and accusations. Every day with them presents new challenges as their disease progresses, but we know our Lord knows the way through our wilderness and all we have to do is follow. As you accepted your assignment and received blessings from it on the other side of it, we too hold onto that hope as we see the Lord refining our characters and increasing our need, dependence and love for Him. Thank you for sharing your "assignment" with us. It provides encouragement in our time of refinement.

  3. What a Beautiful Gift from God your Belief in our Beloved Father and your Testimony. I can relate today believing this is My Assignment. To just wait on God. Wait…How? I don’t like to be alone. I am a senior, a single mother, a grand mother and a great grand mother. I love the Blessing of my family. I want to work and I want to help God’s people. I want to feel productive in the world for God. I have worked, I have helped people and I enjoy being busy along with not the best health thru the years. I want to be obedient to God. I am learning to be still and listen. Read, study, meditate, pray and praise God for his provisions as I wait. It has not been an easy road to travel. I respond by the leading of the Holy Spirit and a peace that passes all understanding. Please pray for me. I thank God and I thank you for sharing. It is a confirmation this very morning. This is assigned. This is assigned. This is assigned.

    May God Bless you and keep you.

  4. Something I desperately needed to be reminded of —“ Often what stumps us in a transition, what keeps us from diving in and embracing it wholeheartedly, is that we don’t receive it as an assignment from Him. And not an ordinary assignment but a “given from the hands of the One who loves you more than life, who works all things for your good” kind of assignment.” 💚

  5. Thanks for the reminder that we can do all things with the help of our God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Amazing testimony.

  6. First I wanna say I thank God for the author of this devotional. I truly received it whole heartily. I appreciate the Lord for just when u think the Lord isnt listening I come upon an article such as this that reminds me oh yes he is listening and I’m not by myself. Resting n his goodness n sovereignty how profound and relevant those words are to me even right now. Understanding fully that we are not our own and the Lord tells us he has a plan for our lives and for us not to lean to our own understanding . Acknowledge him and he will direct our paths. Thank u for this. Thank u very much.

    1. Special K, Thank you for these words. I am so grateful that this article was perfect timing for your soul. God truly knows what we need in the most significant moments. We are so grateful you are part of the GHH Community.

      Have you joined our women’s prayer group and let us know how we can cover you in prayer? https://www.facebook.com/groups/1065571583891975

      Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast

  7. Yes, I am 68 years old. And I know it’s Gods timing, I leave my problem at the foot of the cross. Then take my problems back. We all need to trust God his timing not mine how old do I have to be to understand the timing. ❤️

  8. I say, Yes Lord. I have learned; that same thing for myself. I can say God; I am not going to worry about my disappointment in my plans, but for whatever, the reason is; I thanks you Lord; you know, I don’t. AMEN!

  9. This is right on time, my husband of 60 years has become ill and I am the caregiver, this encouraged me to accept it as my assignment from God. Thank you

    1. I am a caregiver professionally, and I am now having to navigate taking care of my Mom and her husband,, I ask for strength daily!!

  10. Thank you for sharing your story. When my husband became disabled years ago my reaction was similarly – this is not the plan . . . and I had many questions for God. Eventually, thru much prayer for help , I said, Lord I can do this, but NOT without your help!! Accepting change, just recently my husband became blind- a new assignment. But our Lord God never put more on us than we can bear. I thank Jesus for the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit leading me to read your article this morning.

    1. Doyce, thank you for sharing your story with us. The continual fight to remain faithful and resilient in uncertainty is something we all can learn from in your journey. Thank you. I am so inspired to apply that to my life. We are grateful for these words.

      Have you joined our women’s prayer group and let us know how we can cover you in prayer? https://www.facebook.com/groups/1065571583891975

      Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast

  11. This message came today, as I am getting ready to go 20 miles to receive my first Covid- 19 shot. I am a 74 year old widow with no children, and I will be traveling alone to get the shot. It just started snowing, which is suppose to change over to rain. Am I somewhat concerned? Yes, I am. But, Psalm 16 is keeping me calm in God’s will. I know He will ride with me. Thank You, Lord.
    Rebecca Lindstrom

    1. Rebecca, I am so grateful for your transparency. I am so moved by your faithfulness and believing in Psalm 16 – we pray 1 Timothy 1:7 over you as well, that you will have a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. That any fear disappears. Thank you for being part of the GHH Community. You are surrounded.

      Have you joined our women’s prayer group and let us know how we can cover you in prayer? https://www.facebook.com/groups/1065571583891975

      Eryn Co-Host to God Hears Her Podcast

  12. Can l say WOW. This is just what I needed to read. Thank you for putting into words, what a challenge can be. According to God’s timing…not mine…

  13. Woow! What an experience for me learn from! God’s timing is always the best. And He cannot take you to a place where His grace will not sustain you.

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