The following is written by Christa Hahn, Founder and Vice President of His Little Feet.
This week, while studying Matthew 11, I challenged myself to reflect back and remember experiences that God put in my life to expose His voice, His heart, His agenda and His presence. Here is how Matthew 11 jumped off the page into my heart and mind, in the context of helping, loving and training orphaned and vulnerable children:
In 2004, I asked a little orphan girl from India, “Why do you think I should travel with the orphan choir?” She turned to me and simply said, “Because God says you should. That is His heart. And you should want to do what His heart cares about.” God’s voice, out of the mouth of a child, is what sealed the deal for me…my life’s desires were not my own…I was to take on God’s heart and follow after those things.
“He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 11: 15)
In 2006: “Do they not hear us Auntie? Do they not hear what we are singing about? Do they not understand Who we are singing to?” asked one of our little boys from Africa, after a concert one night. I replied, “Well, I think they can hear you, but it seems like their hearts are not hearing the message. They must be thinking about other things.” He said back to me with tears in his eyes, “I think they have so much stuff and are so busy that they can’t hear God. All I want is for them to hear about and know Jesus. I am sad for them.”
“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to others: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” (Matthew 11: 16-17)
In 2007, a little girl shared, “Inside my hut the rebels held a gun to my head and asked me where my parents were. I was so scared and I remember praying and asking God to just make the rebels go away. Immediately the rebels heard a noise in the bushes outside and went outside to figure out who was there.The rebels got distracted by another group of rebels advancing onto a nearby village and went after them. I experienced a miracle that day. God spared my life, when it could have been quickly ended.”
“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11: 25)
In 2008, a little boy from Africa, with tears welling up in his eyes, cried, “My daddy died. My daddy was killed. All I want is a daddy, Uncle Mikey.” Wow! What a gripping, heart-wrenching statement from an 8-year-old boy. What do you say? What do you do? Mike swooped the little boy up in his arms, as the little one sobbed and sobbed. Mike softly said, “Your earthly daddy is gone, but your heavenly Father is here with us right now. And Uncle Mikey is here with you and I love you very much.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
Reflecting back is sometimes painful, sometimes eye-opening, and always full of God’s beckoning to my heart to know Him deeper.
Every story of pain I hear draws me closer to Him. Because only through Jesus Christ can we truly find hope for the orphan, healing for the broken and rest for our souls.
Lord, please allow me to see more of the pain that Your children have experienced, that I might trust You more and more and draw closer to You.
