This has been one of the most difficult ones for me over the years. As a people-helper by profession, I'm used to being in the process with people who are working through difficult things in life. I've come to trust the work that we do together, and I trust that the process of healing works. But, what if I'm not there when they face another crisis? What if I never see them again? Can I really just send them on their way and into the hands of God?

The resounding answer that I've found is "yes!" God can be trusted to take those people to the next step even if you're not going to be there to help. He will put other people in their path to nurture them in the faith, the same way that He did for you. It's not all your responsibility, and you can share and trust God to show up and take up where you've left off.

Remember, God has always had a plan for each believer that included a lot of people, not just you. As Paul said: What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds (1 Corinthians 3:5-10, NIV).

Let God be God. Your role may be just to share and to let someone else do the watering. If God has placed you there to begin the process, then do your role and let God do the rest. If He has put you there for more, then do that too, but sometimes your role will be limited. And as Paul said, you have your own labor that is often only part of the picture.

I had this reinforced recently. I presented the gospel at a talk I gave, and a month later a young man called me. He said he had prayed that night to receive Christ, and then he began to tell me all the people and help that God sent to him in the following weeks. God is faithful. Do your part, and He will give that person the other pieces that he or she needs.

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