Enter the mess
By Amy Walters —
Life is messy.
Relationships with neighbors, coworkers, bosses, church members, even with the people we love, get complicated. Sometimes we find ourselves in difficult situations with no good options. In those times, it’s easy to pull away, to disengage from the messes around us (or in us).
The holiday season even compounds some of these challenges. New missionaries are spending their first Christmas in a new country, and it just doesn’t feel the same. Other celebrations are darkened by the absence of people we love.
But there is encouragement. The very reason we celebrate during this dark, cold month is that we have a Savior who didn’t remain distant, who didn’t stand back and watch it all unfold. He came and intentionally entered the mess.
Jesus Entered the Mess
‘Twas the night before Christmas , everything was a mess;
Towns in upheaval, families in distress.
Towns in upheaval, families in distress.
A tyrant ruler paranoid for his power,
Kept the citizens guessing from hour to hour.
Kept the citizens guessing from hour to hour.
Everyone was sent home for a government census
To tax people for roads and civil defenses.
To tax people for roads and civil defenses.
For a man and a woman surrounded by scandal,
The journey was almost too hard to handle.
The journey was almost too hard to handle.
She was great with child from outside of marriage
A situation all who knew them disparaged.
A situation all who knew them disparaged.
For they did not know that she bore the King,
The one for whom choirs of angels would sing.
The one for whom choirs of angels would sing.
So when they arrived late at night in that town,
No one made room for them to lie down.
No one made room for them to lie down.
Even though her labor pains were soon to begin,
For this disgraced family, there was no room in the inn.
For this disgraced family, there was no room in the inn.
They found a place that at least had four walls,
Never mind it was next to unsterile cow stalls.
Never mind it was next to unsterile cow stalls.
But in that filthy place came God’s only Son,
The Messiah who came to save everyone.
The Messiah who came to save everyone.
But why come right there, to that time and that place
To suffer disease, unrest and disgrace?
To suffer disease, unrest and disgrace?
Why arrive within sight of Herod’s dark palace
To suffer his jealousy, rage and malice?
To suffer his jealousy, rage and malice?
Why come during a time of political unrest
When life was unstable and tense at best?
When life was unstable and tense at best?
And why come to parents whose reputations were shamed
And willingly take their dishonorable name?
And willingly take their dishonorable name?
All we know is the Messiah knew what was best
And intentionally came to enter their mess.
And intentionally came to enter their mess.
(By Amy Walters, 2013)
This Christmas, take courage knowing that you are not alone—your Savior is walking beside you. And boldly, prayerfully, wisely enter the mess.
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
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