What has been the most challenging thing about being a missionary wife on a foreign field, and how has God helped you through that challenge?
by Aimee Alvord
For me, one of the most challenging things about being a missionary wife is the discomfort of feeling like I don’t fit in. All missionaries are not the same, and sometimes people feel as if there's a way of ministry that they have to fit into, and may feel pressure to do things the way others do them. For instance, some missionary wives are also Bible teachers, but that is not my giftedness. I do not usually enjoy studying (although I try to anyway) or teaching (unless it’s spiritual instruction to my kids). I have felt like this for over 20 years, telling myself that it’s ok in the body of Christ to be a hand instead of the brain, but still, the discomfort persists. Thankfully, the Lord gives me little revelations to keep me going. Like the other day I was sitting on the floor putting on my shoes, and it hit me: “I am SUPPOSED to feel inadequate. The Lord wants to be the strength in my weakness. That is the whole point!” Somehow along the way, I must have picked up the idea that when you are doing God’s will, it will feel comfortable. I’m not sure where I got that expectation, since I don’t think most of the heroes in the Bible became giants in the faith by fitting in well in their social circles. I can’t imagine that Jesus felt comfortable most of the time, either.
I think maybe my mistake comes when I confuse “comfort” and “peace”. I know by experience that submitting to the Lord’s will brings a certain peace, which, interestingly, can coexist with discomfort. I think comfort (the right kind) comes through abiding in Him – finding my identity in the Lord instead of in my little role on this earth.
So with the Lord’s help, I’ll continue to try and honor Him through persevering in obedience despite the unease. Maybe that way He’ll get all the credit for whatever good that happens because it’ll be obvious it wasn’t me!
Aimee and her husband Bruce Alvord have been serving the Lord in Ukraine since 1992.
