Counting the Cost

I rarely count the cost of my faith. In America, I don't really have to. It may not be the most popular thing to be a Christian in some circles, but for the most part, people don't really care. Today I met a woman who had to count the cost. She grew up in a Muslim family and then, as expected married a Muslim man. She was lying in bed one night and was awoken by a really bright light. In the midst of her fear, not knowing what was happening, she felt God speak words of encouragement to her about Jesus. She woke her husband while it was all happening and he was confused because he didn't hear anything. When she told him what she was experiencing, and that she felt Jesus calling her, he got very angry and kicked her out of the house. As she began to grow in her faith she was put in prison for 7 years. While she was in prison, her husband took her twin boys to Saudi Arabia and told them she was dead. For the past 7 years, this amazing woman has been the head of a ministry to Muslim converts. Men and women from all over (even other countries) have come to live in this little village that supports them...they go to school (many of the Muslim women were not allowed to have educations or occupations), they have people discipling them, there are even some of these converts in Seminary learning how to be pastors.
The story is amazing of how God is still showing up in huge ways to reveal Himself and His grace to people all over the world. But what really struck me was this woman's conviction and courage in taking a leap of faith. She knew straight up that as soon as she professed Jesus as Lord in her life that she could potentially be killed. Yet she couldn't deny the power of what she saw and heard, and as she began to read the Bible, she came alive for the first time. Understand that in Islam women are property. Women have no rights. Men do not allow women free thought, education, occupation, or opinions. This woman is now living a free life in Christ, and helping others to do the same. But it did not come without cost. It came at a huge price...her family, her home, and all that she had ever known. But as she tells her testimony, a huge smile engulfs her face. Her passion is contagious. She shares with conviction and purpose...to let the world know about the power of God in Jesus Christ.
Everyday, she says, they must rely on God to provide for them. She does not have many full time supporters of the ministry, and yet, they do not go hungry. Many days food just shows up from random places. This month we have been studying the idea of God's shelter found in Psalm 91. These lives in this village are perfect illustrations of God's shelter. "Those who dwell in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."
We spent the entire day today with the people of this village, many of the Muslim converts. We were there to support the drilling of a bore hole, which will provide clean water for the village. (The bore hole and water issue is a whole other blog post that I'll get to eventually). About 150 kids just showed up from all over the place to play. It was a day I will never forget.
But as I settle in for the night, there is a question that is on the front of my mind. Do we have enough trust in God to count the cost of faith? I do think there is a cost, even for those of us who live in America. I think it's a question of priority in our lives. Where do we find our shelter? Do we strive to do life on our own, or do we trust God with the details of our lives? Do we pour ourselves out for others, knowing that it might mean giving something up for ourselves? Are we willing to, as Jesus says, do for the least of these? Where is my treasure? All of these questions aim at the central point that if we are really wanting to experience God, we must lay down our lives every single day...just like these people I met today.