In life’s darkest valleys, when hope seems distant and trials overwhelming, God specializes in dramatic reversals. Like Joseph’s sudden elevation from prison to palace, or David’s transformation from fugitive to king, our Father delights in turning mourning into dancing. These pivotal moments aren’t just historical accounts — they’re promises of God’s faithfulness that echo through time into our present circumstances. Consider Joseph, who languished in prison on false charges, yet in a single day was elevated to become second only to Pharaoh. “The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. He made him master of his household, ruler over all his possessions.” — Psalm 105:20–21. This dramatic reversal wasn’t just about Joseph’s personal vindication — it was God’s master plan to save nations. Similarly, David’s journey from cave-dwelling fugitive to celebrated king demonstrates God’s perfect timing. “He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.” — Psalm 40:2. Even in his darkest moments, hiding from Saul in the caves of Adullam, David was being prepared for his destiny. Consider Job, who lost everything yet witnessed God restore double what was taken. His story reminds us that our lowest point isn’t our final chapter — it’s often the precise moment God chooses to demonstrate His power. “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.” — Job 42:12. As the psalmist declares, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.” — Psalm 126:5.
The Urgency of Now: Life moves with relentless speed, like an arrow released from its bow. David understood this temporal nature when he prayed, "Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is." — Psalm 39:4. We often live as if we have an endless supply of tomorrows, but in the Word we are soberly reminded that our life is "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." — James 4:14. This isn't meant to discourage us but to instill a holy urgency in our hearts. When Jesus said, "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." — John 9:4. This wisdom isn't just about acknowledging life's brevity—it's about making each moment count for eternity. The ancient Romans had a saying, "Carpe diem" (seize the day), but as believers, we're called to something greater: to redeem the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). Don’t let days, months, or years slip by without acting on God’s call—use this brief life to make an eternal impact.
Throughout Scripture, we see God calling His chosen servants into periods of solitude. These aren't merely moments of rest, but crucibles of transformation where the unseen work of the Spirit takes place. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before leading the Israelites. David, though anointed as king, spent years in caves and wild places, penning psalms that would echo through eternity. Even Jesus, the Son of God, "often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16). Consider Elijah's experience on Mount Horeb. After his dramatic victory over the prophets of Baal, he fled in fear and discouragement. God didn't rebuke him but invited him to "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord" (1 Kings 19:11). In the silence that followed the wind, earthquake, and fire, Elijah heard the "gentle whisper" of God, restoring his soul and redirecting his mission. These moments of solitude aren't about escaping responsibility, but about encountering God in the depths of our being. It's in these unseen places that we're stripped of pretense, faced with our true selves, and molded by the Master's hands. As the Psalmist declares, “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10. In our hyper-connected world, do we dare to disconnect, to seek the face of God in the quiet places? It's there, in the unseen, that our greatest victories are won.
In this fallen world, adversity is not just a possibility — it’s an inevitability. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, and trials come to all who draw breath. As we read in Ecclesiastes 9:2, “It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean.” This truth may seem disheartening at first glance, but it carries within it a profound lesson.
How often do we find ourselves caught in the web of procrastination, pushing off tasks that weigh on our minds? This delay isn't just about missed deadlines or unfinished chores; it's a spiritual battle that robs us of our God-given purpose. The stress that gnaws at us isn't from the work itself, but from our inaction in the face of responsibility. Consider how swiftly our anxiety dissipates when we finally take that first step, make that call, or begin that project we've been avoiding. It's as if a burden lifts from our shoulders. This isn't coincidence; it's a reminder of our calling to be good stewards of our time and talents. The Bible speaks clearly about the dangers of procrastination. Proverbs 13:4 tells us, "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."
Ebola: As we drive along the last portion of the sealed road toward the eastern town of Tongo, pastor Joshua points out a small clearing on the roadside. He says, “This was one of the Ebola camps. Any person traveling from Guinea or eastern Sierra Leone must pass along this road. In the time of the Ebola (outbreak of 2014 - 2016), anyone with a fever would be stopped and forced to stay at the camp. Many, many people died here.”
Sierra Leone is a country mostly known for its difficult past. Much like Rwanda is associated with the genocide of the early ‘90s, Sierra Leone is known for its history of slavery, rebel wars, blood diamonds and most recently, the deadliest Ebola outbreak in human history. Yet, through all the pains and hardships, hope in Christ can be found in many communities and districts. All one has to do is walk down the streets of Freetown on any given night and they will hear the sounds of praise and worship crackling from roadside churches. However, it would be a mistake to think Sierra Leone is predominantly a Christian country as it has more than a 70% Muslim population. Many would think religious strife would be a source of constant conflict, but unlike other countries in West Africa, it rarely is…
We all worry. Some more than others, but worry is one of the things most people have become experts at. Much of what Jesus spoke was to allay the worries and fears of people. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” — John 14:1. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.” — Matthew 6:25-29. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” — John 14:27. The fact is — worry will always come. It will harass and torment your mind like wild hounds chasing after you. But praise God there is freedom from worry and we find it in the embrace of Christ Jesus.
“Through a small opening (in sealed train car) I see great piles of clothes. I realize that we are lost. Alas, it is hopeless. After a short while the door of the traincar is abruptly thrown open to the accompaniment of fiendish screams—Raus! Raus! (Get out! Get out!). I no longer have any doubts about our misfortune. I put my arm around my sister and try to get out of the car as quickly as possible. I leave everything behind. My poor sister asks me why I am leaving our baggage. I reply—It is not necessary …
Watching the Guatemala episode I was so shocked by how the Mayan sacrifices are happening today. Many people think Guatemala is totally evangelized, but seeing your episode showed another side of things. I am glad you could help the poor people in the trash yards and show us the hardships of people hooked on drugs. I want to watch all your episodes again and again. You are shining a light in the darkness...God bless you. — Mary
To truly understand your nature as a Christian, and to better know yourself, you must first realize there is two natures inside of you. One is the spirit and the other is the flesh. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please….”
Today, in the modern church, the word tradition has almost become a dirty word. There are valid points of where tradition should not be accepted, such as non-doctrinally sound teachings and heresies that are anti-christ. But for the most part, we should embrace the true traditions of the Word of God and reject those that are not of Christ.
Problems are ever present in life. Those who can overcome them find success, but those who succumb to them find failure. The way you deal with problems will define who you are as a person. Time keeps going with or without you, so you better have a strategy to deal with problems or they will eat you up and spit you out. There are all sorts of ways of dealing with problems in life, some of which will yield good results and some that are a waste of time, but the simple fact is — The one common experience of all humanity is the challenge of problems.
Throughout the Bible we see a pattern of prophets and mighty men of God hear the voice of the Lord in solitude. There is something powerful about separating oneself from the world to hear the voice of God. Jesus practiced this more than anyone and as you read the Gospels you will see that Jesus constantly sought solitude. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” — Mark 1:35
Humans are driven to explore the unknown. For some, there is an irresistible urge to find new paths, discover new lands, blaze new trails and push farther than anyone thought possible. The journey of discovery is often fraught with hardships and many failures, but to those who press on, against all odds, they are the ones who stand as pioneers and explorers.
Thank you, Tim and Will, for faithfully and boldly carrying out the work of Christ by literally being the hands and feet of Jesus in the most unreached and remote places of the world. I've followed your progress throughout the last 13 years since I became a new believer, and recently God put you guys on my heart to see what He has been doing through you…
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6. Strength and courage are callings of the Lord. The Lord tells us to believe in Him and to act accordingly. In essence, the Lord calls us to have a strong resolve and to trust Him. But you can’t have a strong resolve without an unshakeable faith. Below we discuss what it means to have a strong resolve and how to stand firm on the promises of God.
Oftentimes, life can feel like one big juggling act. There are bills to pay, jobs to work, mouths to feed, goals to achieve, problems to solve, ventures to plan, etc… Don’t get us wrong, these activities are important, but it leaves the vast majority of people feeling overwhelmed and physically and mentally exhausted. The simple answer would be to own less stuff or cut down on a busy schedule, but as important and helpful as those minimalist activities are, they are treating the symptom and not the cause. A cluttered and unfulfilled life cannot be cured through external fixes, but only through a change of the heart.
In each of us, there is an explorer’s heart. We all have a need to learn more, discover more and do more. Even from infancy humans are exploring. Kids try to utter words until they can finally speak, they crawl until they can finally walk, they take risks and learn how to navigate the world around them, and oftentimes, to the consternation of their parents, these infant explorations result in a few bumps and bruises. But such is life, and as we grow older, exploration of the world around us shapes who we are.
Can you tell us one of the most memorable ministry opportunities you had in your travels?Well, one of the most impactful testimonies that always comes to mind is the divine meeting with the Reindeer tribe. Most people are familiar with the episode and it is one of the most viewed ones that we’ve done…
How did you get started in missions and who had the idea to film it?
We got started in missions because we heard the calling and took action upon that calling. I was 20 when I made the decision and Will was 24. As for the idea for the TV series…Well, we took a one-year missionary journey from 1998-1999 before we even documented or imagined the first season of Travel the Road.
To compete is natural. Paul talks about life as a race and the importance of running a good one as a follower of Christ Jesus.“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” — 1 Corinthians 9:24-25. The nature to compete is in us, but where this competitive nature goes bad is when we make our focus to compete against others rather than with ourselves.
Waking Up: Now, more than ever we live in a self-centered world. For many, life in modern times consists of a constant bolstering of ego. People are taught to seek a life that is self-help or self-focused. Sadly, this trend has crept into the church and many now preach a self-centered Gospel rather than the truth of what will truly set people free — In losing your life you shall find it.
One of the chief tenets of being a Christian is keeping the faith and persevering until the end. “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” — Hebrews 6:11
1. Faith: Take faith that God has a plan for you and that you are able to do great things in Him. If you do not believe God can work through you, then you are destined to fail. Faith for a good future, good life, great purpose, healing, and all the other promises God has for us is the most important principle you can start with. So how do we get faith?
