Two Words on the Sands

“Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.” — from Matthew 9

Years later, Hudson was back in England, worn out and unwell. One day he stood looking at a great big map of China. He thought of the millions and millions of people living deep inland, far from the coast, who had never once heard about Jesus — and his heart nearly broke.

Hudson knew what was needed: more workers, lots of them, to go and tell those people the good news. But he was afraid to ask God for them — because if God sent them, Hudson would be responsible for looking after them all! The worry felt too big.

One Sunday, in a town called Brighton, he just couldn’t sit still in church among a thousand comfortable people. So he walked out alone onto the sandy beach. There, with the waves rolling in, he finally stopped being afraid and gave the whole huge job to God.

And then he prayed a bold, specific prayer: he asked God for twenty-four fellow workers to go to the parts of China that had no missionary at all. He even wrote his prayer down in the margin of the Bible he was carrying. Then he went home, and for the first time in months, his heart was full of peace.

That prayer on the beach was the beginning of a great mission that would send hundreds of workers into China.

When you finally stop being afraid and hand your biggest worry to God, he gives you peace — and he can do more than you ever dreamed. So don’t be afraid to ask him for big things.

Dear God, help me to stop being afraid and give my biggest worries to you. Thank you that you can do great things. Amen.