I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ps 119:19.
I remember my first mission to Peru. It was my first mission, period, and it was a little overwhelming at first. I can remember exiting the plane in Lima after a six plus hour flight and walking into the terminal. Most signs had english on them as well as spanish but it was still unnerving, feeling the pace and chaos of the airport. Fortunatley there were leaders who wrangled us all together and directed us where we needed to go. I was an adult but I was so grateful to have someone who knew where we were going. It just felt overwhelming being in a foreign land that spoke a language that was foreign to me.
Sometimes when I read the bible I feel like I speak a different language. I read the passage and instead of it being clear and concise it causes me to ask more questions. Sometimes I just don’t understand. Fortunately, we have endless numbers of commentaries and translations to help. However, I neglect the guiding of the Holy Spirit when it comes to asking for help. Psalm 119:19 reminds me of that first mission where I felt overwhelmed in a strange land. However, there were leaders there that guided us where we needed to go. The Holy Spirit is waiting to show us where we need to go and what we need to understand. I know this but I become frustrated in my own efforts and forget to ask the one who wrote the scriptures in the first place.