Strong in the Lord

My husband, Darrin, and I have a mixed marriage. He is half Japanese, a quarter Portuguese and a quarter Native Hawaiian. He grew up in an Asian majority city and state, Hilo, Hawaii. I’m Chinese and I grew up in a majority Caucasian city and state, Boulder, Colorado.

But our mixed marriage runs deeper than our ethnic makeup. He has a Droid. I have an iPhone. Darrin discovers back roads and rarely takes the same route anywhere. I drive the same way every time to the grocery store and post office. He likes options. I like decisions. He reads the NIV Bible. I’m a loyal NASB reader. But every so often I wander from the familiar and mix things up a bit in my Bible reading plan. This year I’ve been reading through the  One Year Chronological Bible in the New Living Translation . Over the weekend I came across a favorite Psalm, but read it with fresh eyes.

“Happy are those who are strong in the LORD, who set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains! They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.” (Psalm 84:5-7)

Here’s what stood out to me from these verses in this version:

Happy are those who are  strong in the LORD
• Am I seeking to be strong in ministry?
• Or strong in the living of the Christian life?
• Or strong in a particular role of spouse, parent, leader, friend?
• “Strong in the LORD” speaks to me of knowing God intimately and trusting Him over and over… Blessed is the man who  trusts  in the LORD  (Jeremiah 17:7 NASB).

(Happy are those) Who set their  minds  on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
• Where have I set my mind? My thought life?
• Have I forgotten this world is not my home?
• “Minds set on a pilgrimage” speaks to me of eternal perspective, of living for things unseen, of not getting entangled in jealousy, envy or comparison to others be it in regard to their relationships, stuff, status or ministry… Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if  anything worthy of  praise, let your mind dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8 NASB).

When  they  walk  through the Valley of Weeping
• Not “if ” but “when” means everyone, sooner or later, will go through valley times.
• The valley times can’t be hurried; they are  walked , one foot in front of the other.
• I’m reminded of  how the slower pace of walking allows me to take in sights and sounds I would otherwise miss if  I were rushing about.

it (the Valley of Weeping) will become a place of   refreshing springs  where  pools of blessing  collect after the rains
• Only God can redeem something “bad” like the Valley of Weeping to refreshing springs and pools of blessing–He was able to redeem you and me, and He is able to redeem our circumstances for good.
• As leaders, some of  our greatest, most impactful ministry will come out of the Valley of Weeping.
• The Valley of Weeping keeps us  grounded  as leaders. It allows us to be approachable, relatable and human.

They will  continue to grow stronger , and each of them  will  appear before God in Jerusalem
• It seems there is a connection between  strength and suffering . The Valley of  Weeping causes our roots to grow deeper, to grow stronger in order to withstand the storms of life
• The  confidence  of  seeing Him face to face…we  will  appear before God… Beloved, now we are children of  God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:2-3 NASB)

What additional insights would you add to these verses? What do you find meaningful for where you are right now as a ministry leader?

Vivian Mabuni  and her husband Darrin work with  Epic Movement , the Asian American ministry of  Cru . Vivian is a mom of three kids and a cancer survivor.  Her first book, “ Warrior in Pink: A Story of Cancer, Community and the God Who Comforts ” will be available in bookstores April 2014. She blogs at  www.vivianmabuni.com . Follow her on Twitter: @vivmabuni. 

* Photo courtesy of Jason Means (Flickr Creative Commons).