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Life to the Full
An excerpt from Day 3 of Daring Decision, a new devotional book by M. R. Conrad. Available to preorder now from Church Works Media.
“I feel like God has me blindfolded and is leading me along a path I don’t quite understand. But I will follow Him.” —Bonnie Witherall, Missionary to Lebanon (1971–2002)
“Are you afraid?” asked Bonnie Witherall’s British father-in-law as he drove her to Heathrow Airport for her flight to Lebanon in late August 2002.
“I’m not afraid at all,” she replied. “I’m going home.”
Bonnie, a thirty-one-year-old American, and her British husband, Gary, served in Sidon, Lebanon. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, life in Lebanon had become more tense. The young couple had considered cutting their assignment short and returning to the safety of their first home in Washington state. As they prayerfully sought God’s will, the words of Psalm 139:16 assured them of God’s sovereignty over their lives: “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” The couple concluded that “no man could add or take a day from our lives. We decided to stay, no matter what.”
Following God’s Leading
At times, the future seemed murky. In April 2000, Bonnie wrote in her journal, “I don’t know what God has for us, but I want to be available to go…. I feel like God has me blindfolded and is leading me along a path I don’t quite understand. But I will follow Him.” Both Bonnie and her husband fervently desired to make their lives count for God. They loved their little home in the Pacific Northwest, but they felt they could not stay.
As they considered possible options, the young couple consulted with one of their mentors. In an email, he urged them to be willing to go where others would not go: “Go to the Middle East and eat sand.” Of all the potential ministry locations, this was the one the Witheralls least preferred.
Bonnie read the email alone, and to her surprise, she wondered if maybe this was what the Lord would have them do. Years earlier, Bonnie had discovered that “to fulfill our mission and purpose in life we must do what He asks. But the only way to know that is to surrender our will to Him.”
Unknown to her, Gary had the same reaction upon reading the “eat sand” email. The following day, they surprised each other with their new mutual interest in following the Lord to the Middle East. Gary later explained, “We go because God tells us to go, not because we feel like going. Calling is more than feelings.” As the couple took steps toward a two-year mission to Lebanon, the Lord opened the way before them.
After adjustment and initial language study, Bonnie began working at a clinic for pregnant Palestinian women. She showed and shared the love of Christ with those willing to come and listen. The young couple cautiously continued assisting in two local churches and making friends with neighbors and shopkeepers. The Witheralls settled into a happy life, accustomed to both the joys and risks of the home God gave them.
A Morning in November
The morning of November 21, 2002, began like any other. Gary had the day off while Bonnie headed to the clinic. She slipped out before he awakened. Neither could have predicted the ambush that awaited Bonnie at the door of the clinic. She probably never even saw her attacker before three gunshots ended Bonnie’s life.
Despite her martyrdom, the promise that Bonnie claimed remains true. God has determined how many days each of us have on Earth long before our birth. No gunman can shorten the time God has given any of us. When that trigger is pulled, God is still in control.
The trail blazed by the gospel is often stained with the blood of its messengers. Following Christ sometimes puts His servants in the crosshairs. In a sin-shattered world, the consequences of obedience to Christ can seem—for the moment—a tragic end.
Measuring a Life Well-Lived
What could be more important than personal safety? Our answer to this question may reveal more about our faith than the dilemmas we face. Do we truly go for the sake of Jesus’ name? Do we share Christ’s love for those who would never hear of Him unless His messengers take the kind of risks that Bonnie Witherall took?
Each of us has a limited time to serve Him. God alone chooses the moment. Our decision is how to use the time we have—whether it be brief or lengthy. Bonnie chose to “live life to the full,” the phrase she once requested be placed on her tombstone. For her, “life to the full” meant service to Christ where He could use her most. The value of a life is not measured in the number of days granted but in how those days are spent.
Start your journey of daring faith with 31 stories of courage and commitment in Daring Decision by M. R. Conrad.
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A 31-Day Journey with Those Who Followed God’s Leading
Discover how God led men and women throughout history to serve Him in daring ways. Daring Decision combines missionary biography and devotional reflection, offering one month of short, engaging readings that encourage faith and obedience. How did God guide believers like Adoniram Judson, Lottie Moon, Eric Liddell, Jonathan Goforth, Charles Simeon, and Isobel Kuhn? None were superheroes. All looked to God for direction as they dared to extend the gospel into the dark places of this world.
Book 3 in the Daring Devotion series.
