Beyond Comfort

“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.”

— Psalm 37:5 (NKJV)

Far away from the conveniences of modern city life, I found myself in a small rural village in the Philippines—a place that was very different from the environment I had grown up in. Coming from the city, I was used to having water whenever I needed it, electricity at the flip of a switch, and stores and restaurants within easy reach. I never thought much about these things because they were simply part of everyday life.

Then I arrived in the village, and suddenly, the things I had always taken for granted became things I had to live without. Running water was not always available, and sudden power outages were simply part of daily life. Even buying basic groceries required a motorcycle ride of more than forty minutes along dusty, uneven roads. As someone coming from a completely different environment, the adjustment was even more challenging.

The unfamiliar environment, language, food, transportation, and slower pace of life often left me physically and emotionally exhausted. There were moments when I wondered how I would adapt to a place so different from everything I had known. At first, I focused mostly on what I lacked. I missed the convenience of the city. I missed being able to accomplish simple things quickly. I became tired of the long rides, the heat, the muddy roads, and the uncertainty of everyday routines. But somewhere in the middle of all that discomfort, God began to change my perspective.

Every day, I went from house to house, visiting local families and walking along muddy village paths. Sometimes the journey was uncomfortable, and sometimes I felt tired before I even reached the next home. Yet every time I knocked on a door, I was reminded that I was not there simply because of my own plans. I was there because God had sent me. And somehow, every day, He gave me enough grace for that day.

The more I served, the more I realized that God was teaching me something I could never have learned from the comfort of my own environment. I had always depended on convenience, preparation, and my own ability to solve problems. But in that village, many things were beyond my control. I had to learn to slow down, let go of my expectations, and depend on God one day at a time. Then, during one of our visitations, God opened a door I never could have planned myself. I met a local school teacher.

At first, it seemed like an ordinary conversation. But as we talked, the teacher gave me an unexpected opportunity: to teach the Bible to children at the local school. What looked like a casual encounter suddenly felt like a divine appointment. Beginning September 18, I was given the privilege of teaching God’s Word to these children every Friday morning. The opportunity was not the result of some carefully designed strategy or elaborate plan. It came while I was simply walking, visiting families, and trying to be faithful with what God had placed in front of me. Looking back, I now see the physical discomfort differently.

The long motorcycle rides, the muddy paths, the exhaustion, the unfamiliar surroundings, and even the moments when I felt out of place were not meaningless. Through those experiences, God was slowly teaching me that His grace does not depend on comfortable circumstances. In a small Philippine village where I sometimes felt that I had so little, God showed me that I had everything I truly needed in Him.

Sometimes we have to leave behind what is familiar before we can truly experience how faithful He is. For that, I am deeply grateful. This village may be far from the city life I once knew, but here, in a place where I thought I would have less, God has shown me more of His love, His grace, and His presence than I could have imagined.

Name: Baek Doo San/66th Batch

Mission Field: Polomolok, South Cotabato