As a professional counselor, I find that missionaries are great people to work with. They are motivated, and they are willing to work hard and take risks to accomplish meaningful goals. While it shouldn’t be a surprise that missionaries have similar mental health issues as the rest of the general population (just like anyone has the same chance of having influenza or a dislocated shoulder), where they stand out is their willingness to rise to the challenge; to do the hard work of growth and change that growing in Christ requires.
But if you’re a missionary—or anyone whose life is dedicated to making disciples—there are some ministry-specific challenges that you face as well. For example, a core requirement for effective counseling is accurate empathy. But as a missionary, where can you find anyone who is willing to empathize with you? Have you noticed that people are prone to “pedestalize” you? If you reveal pain or uncertainty, they might say, “But I admire you so much; I could never do what you are doing.” If you make a further attempt to be real with them, it may be rebuffed with, “Oh no, don’t say that! You are such a hero to me!” When I hear words like these, I feel that the speaker has marginalized my distress and simultaneously exempted him or herself from knowing me. While I do enjoy an occasional dose of affirmation, I also desire deeply to be known—warts, scars, fears, and all.
And what about the taboo questions? “Was I really called to this role, or was I just responding to my sending church’s missionary culture?” “Does God love me or even care that I am here?” “Am I really a believer?” And these are some of the easier “hard questions” that you face! Who can you talk to at church when your faith questions undermine your confidence that you even belong in ministry?
Biblical Examples of Honest Struggle
Years ago, I began reading through the Bible regularly. One of the things that astonished me was its honesty and the honesty of these earlier heroes of the faith who had such huge faith questions. I’ve included just a small selection below for your perusal.
Moses: “He asked the Lord, ‘Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me (Numbers 11:11)?’”
Job: “‘I loathe my very life; therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul (Job 10:1).’”
David: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me (Psalm 22:1a)?”
Jeremiah: “Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease (Jeremiah 12:1)?”
Elijah: “‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors (1 Kings 19:4b).’”
Jonah: “‘And I’m so angry I wish I were dead (Jonah 4:9b).’”
Jesus, quoting Psalm 22: “‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me (Mark 15:34)?’”
And yet God doesn’t seem to be threatened or even disappointed by his children’s questions. In fact, they seem to be a really important part of the fabric of our faith. If struggling with God about our faith questions is off-limits, then why are the Scriptures so full of these questions? I challenge you to find a Bible passage where God answers people’s honest questions with a rebuke or a trite answer. In fact, sometimes there seems to be no answer at all. Job didn’t get a direct answer to his questions about whether God is just or caring. And when Jesus cried out in anguish on the cross, this time no voice from Heaven called out to affirm that “‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17).’”
When Faith is Shaken, Turn to God
Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich, in their seminal “The Journey Toward Spiritual Union with God” point out that, as we grow in our faith from new convert status to young disciple to being a productive servant, many get stuck in the productive phase. They observe that:
“Viewing ministry as performance, servants may lose personal contact with God. A disturbing distance between the soul and God develops, ironically, at the same time disciples appear to be so productive in the ‘Lord’s service.’ Overextended, they may become embittered and angry with colleagues or with God Himself.”
It is often a crisis and the hard, scary questions that crises provoke that force us to either move closer to our Lord or, like Demas (2 Timothy 4:10), to abandon Him entirely. Hagberg and Guelich state:
“‘Hitting the wall’ in [the productive stage] serves as the catalyst for pursuing a transforming inner journey. Persuaded that the old pattern does not work, believers enter deeply with the soul to engage God. … Surprisingly, these people discover that God has been waiting for them all along. The healing of Peter’s brokenness (Jn 21:15-23) illustrates the transformational nature of this inward journey.”
Seeking Comfort and Relief
Life presents so many opportunities for us to ask questions of God and of ourselves.
Job responded to his self-righteous friends’ accusations, saying:
“‘I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you. But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.’” –Job 16:4–5
Let’s go deep with Jesus, wrestling our way to that place of comfort and relief and encouraging others along the way.
East-West Devotionals
Dive deeper into a collection of encouraging stories and devotionals by East-West Founder John Maisel and other authors that will spur you on in gratitude, worship, and obedience.
