God is persistent. He is determined to get our attention. He will do whatever it takes to shake us out of our complacency. I know, because this week I was ambushed by God.
It came out of nowhere. One minute I’m happily tending to my family’s needs and the next minute . . . wham . . . God has me on my knees. And when God has you in a headlock, He’s difficult to ignore. Did I say headlock? It was more of a heart lock. God has placed a burden on my heart and it just won’t let me go.
He’s been planning this ambush for months. Invisible to me at the time, God was at a lunch I had with my church’s Missions pastor in May. At that lunch Sherry invited me to the 2007 AIDS Summit. I told her I wasn’t that interested in the whole AIDS issue. I also reminded her that my responsibilities as a mom wouldn’t allow for such a large investment in my time. She dismissed my concerns with a wave of her hand and signed me up. I don’t think she had any idea what she was setting me up for.
I relegated the AIDS Summit to the back of my mind; somewhere between get new carpet and have my molars capped. But last week my Day-Timer reminded me that it was quickly approaching. God’s hand once again intervened in my plans. Between extended hours at school and my husband stepping in to take care of the kids in the evenings I was all set to attend the entire 3-day AIDS Summit at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. I still did not want to go. I wanted to decorate my home for the Holidays not hear about AIDS. But God had other plans.
So there I was, in a crowd of 1,000 people, listening to Rick and Kay Warren talk about the need for the Church to get involved in the fight against AIDS. They hadn’t talked for more than 10 minutes before God jumped me. I’m telling you it was a physical attack. He shook me to my core until my heart broke. It all started with Kay Warren’s words, “We are here to seriously disturb you.” And disturbed I was. Speaker after speaker told of the devastation left in the wake of this deadly disease. When I heard about the 12 million children orphaned by AIDS in Africa I surrendered. Use me God. I’m yours.
But what can I do? What can you do? How can ordinary people like us make a difference in such a large, global battle? I left the first day of the AIDS Summit with a heavy heart. A song came on the radio and it echoed my despair. Brian Littrell sang “I’m in over my head” over and over again until it became my own aching voice. What Lord, can I do? This problem is just too big, and I am far too small. And then I remembered the promise of Luke 1:37. “Nothing is impossible with God.” And we are going to need God for this one.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic is the biggest health and humanitarian crisis the world has ever known. Tens of millions of people have suffered excruciating deaths since the discovery of AIDS in 1981. Their pain is increased by the social stigma attached to their illness. They are usually ostracized by family and friends and left to battle this devastating disease alone. Why? Because the rest of us are ignorant.
Most people see HIV/AIDS as a gay man’s or drug user’s disease. To us the virus is the deadly result of a reckless lifestyle. I am ashamed to admit that until a few days ago this was exactly what I believed. But God, and the 2007 AIDS Summit, has opened my eyes. Did you know that today almost half of the 33 million people infected with HIV/AIDS are women? Most are not drug users or promiscuous, they are victims of violent crimes. Sex trafficking, rape and promiscuous behaviors of husbands are spreading HIV/AIDS to the innocent. And I for one cannot tolerate this injustice. Something must be done and it must be done now.
God does not break that which He will not mend. He broke my heart at the AIDS Summit, and though it may take my lifetime, I believe He will show me a way to heal my heart through action. I have already taken the first step; I have surrendered my life to Him. The very next song after Brian Littrell’s “Over My Head” was Aaron Shust’s “Give It All Away.” Here are his amazing and timely lyrics.
All of my plans, all of my dreams, I lay them down before Your feet
All of my time, all that was mine, I now submit to Your design
‘Cause You are the one who can make my life complete
You are the one who can give light to my feet
You are the one and only one who dared to give it all away for me
You are my strength, You are my God, you are my King
God got my attention. And while the future and all that will be required of me seems daunting, it is also exhilarating to finally be in the fight. I don’t want to live my life on the sidelines. I want to be in the trenches with God. I invite you to join me. But don’t wait too long or you too will be ambushed by God.
