In mid-August, I had the privilege and joy of being in Japan, gathering with members of the Japanese Body of Christ alongside believers from across Asia and other nations. Together, we came with a desire to stand in agreement with the Father’s heart and His purposes for Japan in these days.
For decades, faithful men and women have laboured to see the Gospel penetrate Japanese culture. Missionaries have poured out their lives. Pastors have pioneered churches. Intercessors have prayed, often for years, believing for a spiritual breakthrough that they have yet to fully see.
Today, Christians still represent only a very small percentage of Japan’s population. When you consider the decades of prayer, sacrifice and faithful ministry that have taken place, it would be understandable for some to ask, When will we see the fruit of all this labour?
Yet, I came away from Japan with hope.
Honouring Those Who Have Endured
As we prepared to go, I sensed an assignment from the Lord to walk alongside members of Japan’s national intercessory family and simply pour back into those who have poured themselves out so faithfully.
There is something powerful about honouring those who have endured.
These are men and women who have prayed, stood, served and continued to believe, even when the visible results have not always reflected the depth of their faithfulness. I believe the Father sees every prayer, every sacrifice and every unseen act of obedience.
While we were together, I sensed an invitation for these faithful believers to continue growing not only as intercessors and spiritual warriors, but as family. There was an invitation into an even deeper level of transparency, authenticity and relationship with one another.
This was not because they had failed or somehow missed what God was doing. Quite the opposite.
I believe they are standing at the edge of something new.
The words of Malachi speak of the “sun of righteousness” rising with healing in its rays. I believe there is a sense in which the Son is rising over Japan, and that the Lord is preparing to do things in this nation that we have not seen before.
A New Generation Is Listening
One of the great joys of this journey was reconnecting with Gen Z artist Annika Roth, who has previously joined us on The Father’s Life.
Annika will be joining me again on The Father’s Life on September 14 to share a remarkable collection of artwork that emerged from her own journey of prayer and intercession for Japan.
Her paintings are more than beautiful images. They came through a process of seeking the Father’s heart, listening, praying and allowing Him to reveal what He wanted to communicate through her creativity.
There is something deeply encouraging about watching a younger generation discover that their gifts can become an expression of the Kingdom of God.
The Gospel does not belong to one generation, one method or one expression. God continues to raise up sons and daughters who will carry His heart into culture through preaching, prayer, business, leadership, music, art and creativity.
Perhaps part of what God is doing in Japan is reminding us that we should never underestimate what He can accomplish through a faithful remnant and a generation willing to listen.
When the Breakthrough Hasn't Come Yet
As I reflected on Japan, I realized there is something in this story for all of us.
Maybe you have been praying for something for years and have wondered when you will finally see the breakthrough. Perhaps you have remained faithful in an assignment, relationship, ministry or calling, but the fruit you expected has not yet appeared.
Japan reminds me that a lack of visible results does not mean God has stopped working.
Please do not believe that the Lord has left you or abandoned your life. He is bringing you through. He is inviting you back into hope, not a hope deferred or something constantly dangling beyond your reach, but into the hope that is rooted in Christ Himself.
Romans 5 reminds us that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
There are generations of believers in Japan who have persevered. They have prayed when the numbers remained small. They have served when breakthrough seemed distant. They have continued believing that the Gospel can transform their nation.
Their faithfulness matters.
And I believe there is more to come.
So wherever you find yourself today, keep pressing forward. Allow endurance to build character, and allow character to bring you into a deeper hope in God. What appears small today may be part of something much greater that He is preparing for tomorrow.
The Father has not forgotten Japan.
And He has not forgotten you.