Submission Leads to Blessings!
By Kathy Cooksey

I'm writing to you from the other side of the world. I get to live here! It's the land of cherry blossoms, crisply-dressed ladies in kimonos, shoes in neat rows before the door, and colorful origami animals. The children are gorgeous, and the people are gracious. It's so clean that the rest of the continent calls it the Disneyland of Asia.

I had always been fascinated with the Orient, all the Chinese characters in their alphabets, their tea ceremonies and tatami mat floors. And when I came to Japan as a summer missionary years ago I thought I'd never be able to come back. Since Japan is less than one percent Christian, I remembered being so taken aback by the crowds who didn't know Jesus. If I rode on a train with a hundred Japanese people I might be the only Christian there. Underneath the perfectionism there is deep sense of hurt that I knew could only be solved by Christ.

But when my husband and I began applying to be career missionaries, we decided out of deference to each other that we'd go to a place neither of us had been. I had fallen in love with my places: Japan and Australia. Ronny had fallen in love with his places: The Philippines, The Ukraine, and Belize. So as we began receiving reams of paper telling of the need for laborers all over the world, I always put the Japan requests in the "no" pile.

We couldn't reach a peace as we prayed over the piles of requests. We continued sorting and praying, eliminating and adding. One day Ronny said, "What about Japan, Honey? Would you be open to going there again?"

Elation! Yes, of course I would! How exciting that God led our family through my husband! We continued the process and are in Japan today.

Since that time it hasn't been all kimonos and tea ceremonies. Sometimes the fish smells and ministry struggles have taken their tolls. But how glad I am that I didn't push for my way. I would have regretted my attitude and wondered if I had led our family astray by taking matters in my own hands.

For me, being crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) means exactly that. What a beautiful picture the Biblical model is! And how blessed I have been by following my husband's leadership rather than demanding my own wishes.

I hear women say, "I wish I knew what God's will is for me." What a relief to let the Lord lead through my husband. Many of the things we women worry about are not our job anyway. God has designed the family in such a way to take that pressure and stress off of us. As Ronny lovingly listens to how I feel about the situation, he is able to make wise decisions. And when the squid jerky and fish egg sushi get too much for me, I'm so grateful for that!