Isaiah 6:8 - “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

  As I read this this morning, I was picturing it in my mind. It is so inspiring! It always gives me a desire to Isaiah's example, to be used by God, to meet the need. Right away, I thought of us living in Ukraine. We felt the call of God and we went there as missionaries. It was almost as if God had asked, "Who will go?" And we answered, "Here we are, send us." And of course, when we said that, we truly meant it, although we didn't and even couldn't predict what that call would require of us.  But actually, isn't this what our spiritual life should be - to be surrendered to God no matter what kind of circumstances come our way?   When we were in Ukraine, we moved into a house in a very remote area.  As we talked to other missionaries and other Christian friends, so often we were asked, "Why did you move to the village of Balki? It is in the middle of nowhere!  Such primitive conditions, a hard life....”  Many times, I truly have had the temptation of moving closer to civilization. There is a town an hour and a half away from us where we would definitely have an easier life.  It cannot be compared with America, but it is not bad for Ukraine!  Big stores with so much available, more cultured people, better conditions, conveniences, water, gas, sewage. I can go on listing the benefits - but just one more - fellowship with other like-minded Christians and missionaries!  Yes, our life would be so much easier, but that was not the will of God. There are thousands of people that live in very remote areas with no churches and no missionaries and Jesus died on the cross for those people also.

  "Then I said, here am I, send me." There is such dedication in these words, such willingness and surrender. I picture Isaiah, and I place myself in his place.  "Who shall I send, and who will go for us to Ukraine?" Then we said, "Here we are, Scott and Oksana Sobie, send us."  And as I read this passage, I imagine how God asks others, "Who should I send to Haiti? Who should I send to India?  Who should I send to start this ministry in the church?  Who should I send to show my love at that nursing home or prison?" And I imagine volunteers raising their hands and determining to do their best for the Lord.

  Then comes another question: "Who should I send and who will go for us to the road of cancer?" Scott and I have been on this road for a half a year. So many doctors, appointments, tests, surgery - good results and bad results.... And right now if you ask what is going on, our answer would be, we don't know and doctors don't know. There is only one who does know. He is God!

  Today, for the first time, I saw this experience as a call of God. God is asking, "Who shall I send to these doctors, nurses, receptionists, pharmacists or to the one whose body is being defeated by cancer but whose soul can be freed through the words of God's love?  Who shall I send to these people? Who will go for us? Who will be willing to take this painful road of so much suffering for us?"

  When it comes down to it, a life of faith in God means that I let Him fill in the blank: “Who shall I send to...”  Lord, You tell me what and where.