One of my goals on a mission trip to Cambodia was to teach local mission workers to write meditations for The Upper Room. I began by showing them an issue that contained a meditation that I had written. Then I encouraged them, ‘You can do this, too. The Upper Room is always looking for more writers from other countries.’

As I began to teach, my biggest problem was that English was not the students’ first language. Each time I opened my mouth to begin a sentence, I had to be careful to use clear language. I explained that a good meditation uses a personal experience to connect to scripture and shares a lesson about how we can live faithfully with God. 

During each class, I tried everything I could think of to engage the students. I encouraged them to read scripture in their own language and use metaphors from their own culture. Throughout our time together, they listened politely but with little interaction. In the end, I felt like a failure.

The next day I returned to the mission. There, one of my students from the ‘failed’ session shyly handed me her writing. It was so good I wanted to cry. Through this experience, I learned that God can overcome the obstacles that make us feel like failures. Our job is just to turn up and do our best, leaving the outcome to God.

Prayer: Dear God, we are working for you. Teach us to do our best and leave the results to you. Amen