Hard for whom?

In 2018, I travelled from New Zealand to Tokyo to participate in an evangelistic conference. The idea was simple: learn, share, testify, and repeat. During this brief trip, I had the privilege of seeing God touch many lives, but I was hungry for more. I have found that a hunger for more of God is never a bad thing. It can become the very impulse that nudges us closer to his plans and helps us push past fear and complacency.

Shibuya adventure

On the final day of the conference, this hunger motivated me to step forward as one of the “confident ones” to lead a small outreach team. Truthfully, I felt a bit of a fraud; I was anything but confident. Nevertheless, I was partnered with a Brazilian sister and two Japanese sisters—we barely shared a common language.

We prayed and together felt led to the Shibuya Crossing. (At least we knew people would be there!) When we arrived, I looked around, overwhelmed. I prayed silently, Lord, whom do you have for me to speak to?

And immediately, I heard a simple “Hello.”

It was a young Japanese man, dressed in overalls, with an open, kind face. We began to talk. He asked where I was from and why I was in Japan. I immediately had an opportunity to share about the conference and what God had been doing. When my Japanese and his English reached their limits, the Japanese sisters smoothly stepped in and began sharing the gospel with clarity and grace.

This young man was fully engaged. I thought, Wow, he’s truly interested. I felt like we had clearly communicated the love and message of Jesus. Mission accomplished. But then, the Brazilian sister stepped forward and asked him, “Are you ready to receive Jesus into your heart?”

He replied with an emphatic “Yes!”

We prayed with him, gave him the contact for a local church, and stood back in awe of what God had just done.

That day in Shibuya, we saw yet another young man receive the kingdom of God. Stunned, I remember standing still, thinking, What is happening? This is Japan . . . and Japan is supposed to be hard!

In my spirit, I heard the Lord immediately respond, “Hard for whom?”

Not too hard for God

I had known for about seven years that I was called to Japan, but deep down I had wondered if I really wanted to go. During that time, I was surrounded by well-meaning mission groups who all seemed to say the same thing: Japan is a hard place for mission.

Having lived in Japan previously, I understood why they said that. Despite decades of effort, the Japanese church remains a small minority. Was there something we were missing? I didn’t want to believe that it was too hard, but their experience seemed so valid, and I admired their sacrifice.

But that day in Shibuya, I saw Japan through a new lens. No, Japan has not always been receptive to the gospel, but to say that it’s beyond the reach of the Lord would be false. What I learned that day gave me more than a spark of hope.

Any good fisherman will tell you that some days, you just don’t catch much. It doesn’t always mean you’re doing something wrong. In John 21, we see a group of disciples who returned to Galilee and were likely unsure of what to do following the crucifixion. Peter went fishing, and the others followed. Despite their knowledge and skill, they caught nothing.

Then, a man on the shore (Jesus, though they didn’t yet recognise him) called out, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No.”

“Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”

I can just imagine the disciples exchanging looks: “Who is this guy? Doesn’t he know we have experience?” But they did it anyway. It made no sense. It wasn’t strategic. But they listened, and their net immediately began to fill.

At his direction, the nets can overflow in a moment. That doesn’t mean strategies and tools don’t matter. But, it does mean the real key is learning to listen to the voice of the master. Many believe a great catch is coming. And I believe it too. The morning light is beginning to break over Japan. The nets are ready. And there will be a catch of many, many souls.

This is a time to hold our plans, our strategies, and our initiatives a little more loosely. It’s a time to listen. What is Jesus saying?

What he speaks might not make sense. It might not align with our past experience or ministry models. It may stretch our faith simply to obey.

But he is the Lord of the Harvest, and Japan is not too hard for him!