“When are you going to get a real job?”
“What about all the money you spent on an education?”
“Why would you waste your business degree by becoming a missionary?”
“You’re married now, and planning a family; how are you going to take care of them?”
“Seriously, no salary?”
“You’re going to just trust God to provide?””

The questions seemed endless. But the real test came when well-intentioned church members exclaimed, “You are active in a growing church—a highly capable young couple whose future can be secure and full of ministry impact right here! So why would you up and leave for a ministry that is just getting started? A ministry with no money! What are you thinking?”

I tried to explain, but I soon realized that what Sue and I were doing was unexplainable, even to our close friends and family. The call of God didn’t even make practical sense to me, so how could I convince others?

Encouragement came to me from Jeremiah 1:7-8. Jeremiah was too young, totally unprepared, and completely unqualified. I could identify with his age, the immensity of his fears, and his improbability of success.

God said to Jeremiah, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

With our belongings in the back of a pickup, we said yes and took a hard, difficult, crazy step of obedience. And when we did, we discovered that faith grew in response to each yes to God.

That journey of faith started nearly 44 years ago. A lot has changed since then. But two truths have not changed (and never will):

1. The promises of God accompanying the call of God provide the courage and faith needed to embrace the will of God.
2. God equips the called more than He calls the equipped.

I often get asked how I explain what God has done through Life Action Ministries over the years. I cannot explain it no matter how hard I try.

Four decades ago, I knew nothing about being in ministry. Yet to His credit, and thanks to incredible fellow servants, the fledgling little ministry I joined has become a multi-faceted organization reaching millions through daily radio, multiple online media channels, expansive publishing and conference ministries, leadership retreats, local church events, family camps, and an initiative that is daily issuing a nationwide call for spiritual awakening. It is not only remarkable but truly unexplainable, from its very inception forward.

When our ministry was birthed and the vision was codified, our founder spent the first year traversing our country and seeking counsel from over 120 ministry leaders. They all said the same thing: “It’s a great vision, but it will never work.”

Our founder returned to the place where God gave him the vision, and out of disappointment and frustration, he cried, “God, I don’t understand! You gave me this vision, but all the experts say it won’t work.”

That’s when the same God who gave the vision responded with even greater clarity and certainty: “Don’t ever forget what they told you, because I want you to have a ministry that cannot be explained apart from Me.”

Few heavenly-minded pioneers have modeled more powerfully what uninhibited, faith-filled obedience to the call of God looks like than Andrew Murray. He was a champion of the South African revival of 1860. He issued both a warning and a hope when he wrote:

Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things, “above all that we ask or think.”

This issue of Revive is all about inspiring you to be more available to God than you ever imagined possible—to be more unexplainable than you ever dreamed. Who knows, He might use you as a spark to ignite revival in your own community … or country … or even beyond. You, by God’s grace, can be unexplainable!