God Had Other Plans
Volume 3, Day 262
My friend Linda grew up planning to become a medical missionary. She loves the Lord and wanted to serve Him as a doctor by taking the gospel to sick people in parts of the world where medical care is hard to find. But God had other plans. Linda has indeed become a medical missionary, but not the way she expected.
At 14 years old, Linda developed a chronic health problem that required her to be hospitalised for major surgery several times a year. She survived bacterial meningitis that left her in a coma for 2 weeks and blind for 6 months. She once celebrated two birthdays in a row in the hospital—without going home in between. She has had several experiences when she was not expected to live. Yet Linda is the most vibrant, grateful and cheerful person you will ever meet. She once told me that her mission field, as she hoped and planned, is the hospital. But instead of serving God as a doctor, she serves Him as a patient. No matter how sick she is, she always shows God’s love.
Linda lives out the teaching of the apostle Peter. Despite her trials, she rejoices, and the genuineness of her faith brings “praise, honour and glory” to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7).
Author
Julie Ackerman Link
