As I thought about Jeremiah and excuses, I remembered how Brad Dean wrestled with excuses and God. So I sent him a question, and he responded.

From Brad Dean, in response to the question: Looking back, do you now see the intersection of God’s plan for you and Puerto Rico more clearly?  

“I can definitely relate to Jeremiah, on a number of fronts.  As many in the congregation may recall, in December 2011 I became a living donor by giving a kidney to a woman in NC who was nearing the end of her life due to kidney disease.  What most don’t know is that I felt led to donate a kidney two years prior to that. I avoided, ignored and eventually tried to pray this away. I knew at the time it was something I was called to do but I resisted it.  After nearly two years of resisting God’s call on my life, I finally relented and signed up. In short, I resolved that God wasn’t going to let this go and so I decided to follow through on it. Less than 2 months later, I was part of Duke University’s first paired transplant.

Similarly, when I was first approached about going to Puerto Rico, I politely declined.  I was asked a second time, and I again declined. Each time, I felt awkward saying ‘no’ but tried to convince myself with every (worldly) reason I could come up with:  I haven’t accomplished everything I want in the Myrtle Beach area, daughter in high school, not ready to sell our house, both my wife and I had gainful employment, I don’t speak Spanish, I am not made for the Caribbean sun (hey, don’t laugh … that SPF 50 sunscreen doesn’t cut it here!), etc.  After much prayer, I decided to interview and was confident they would prefer to hire a local candidate. After that interview, I could not sleep for 4 straight days. Every time I turned around, something or someone was referencing Puerto Rico. It was the most exhausting 4 days I’ve ever spent … my mind could not focus on anything other than Puerto Rico. My best friend — my wife — told me “God doesn’t promise we’ll always be comfortable, but He never leads us to a place where our Spirit is not at peace — go where you are at peace.” When I thought about moving to Puerto Rico, a tremendous sense of peace came over me.  The more I thought of the hardships and challenges, the more I became at peace. The next day I visited you and your encouragement affirmed that peace.

As I look back now, I can reflect upon 3 lessons:
  1. Peace is from God and those situations we experience that dilute or remove that peace are not from God.

  2. In both instances — organ donation and major career change — my turning point was when I simply stepped out in faith and handed it all over to God.  Trusting in God was essential but I had to take a step of faith.

  3. In both instances, I can definitely see God’s hand on these situations much more clearly today than at that time.  God used the kidney donation to teach me to trust in Him.  And, when I arrived in Puerto Rico, I just simply gave it up to God … dozens of times, I’ve found myself praying “God, this is bigger than me — I’m handing this off to you, and praising You for what You are about to do.” And, sure enough, God has knocked down multiple walls, forged relationships, and blessed me with a smooth transition.

Peace, trust and faith. We don’t get answers, details and specifics, but we get God’s promises, and that’s enough.

Faithfully,

Pastor Scarlett