Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith

Hebrews 12:2.

On Friday, 6 September 2019, my wife and I approached the check-in counter of Senegal Airlines at the Dakar Airport for our scheduled flight to Niamey via Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Our line moved slowly, so we switched to the line on our right. We finally got to the counter just as the man who was behind us in the other line stepped to the counter. We had gained no advantage by shifting lines. Sound familiar?

“Going to Ouagadougou?” The lady at the counter asked.

“No! To Niamey,” I said.  

She checked us in, tagged our three bags, and handed our claim tickets to me.

At Ouagadougou, the plane almost emptied. Within forty-five minutes, we were descending into Niamey. To our surprise only two of our bags arrived. The check-in clerk in Senegal had checked my wife’s bag to Ouagadougou. What!

How could anybody check a couple to Niamey with two of their bags and check the third piece to the transit city, Ouagadougou? What came over the lady when she held my wife’s bag? What caused her to check that one alone to Ouagadougou?  

Your guess is as good as mine. My wife went livid. All her items were in that suitcase. She had absolutely nothing left for her, but only what she had on. But thank God, He spoke calm to her heart by the time we stepped out to our waiting taxi.     

As she said later, they are material things that shouldn’t hold her heart captive and draw her away from the purpose and joy of our mission. We were in Niger to visit and encourage our church’s missionary couple, and that should be her focus. She has never complained after the airport.

God is so good. Our host came to meet us from Galmi. His mission took over the claim, and we retired for the day. The next day, we had a wonderful breakfast with our son who was in Niamey for work at his hotel. The Lord had encouraged us in a surprising way. We then set out for the eight-hour drive from Niamey to Galmi.

The lesson here is this. Never let the enemy or any situation steal your joy at any time. Focus on what the Lord has committed to you and engage it with joyful anticipation and allow the Holy Spirit to take care of the rest. As Paul reminds us, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood …” (Eph. 6:12). Just as Peter was not the one who spoke to dissuade Jesus from going to   the cross, but it was the devil who spoke through him (Matt. 16:23), so was not the lady at the check-in counter who fought against our focus and joy for this mission but the enemy. “For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:11).

So, when strange things happen in your life, don’t lose it to the devil or to anyone. Maintain your focus on Christ (Heb. 12:2). Keep your joy in the Holy Spirit and glorify the Father in the mission He has called you to (Rm. 12:12).

That’s the winning attitude!