Daring Dependence: A 31-Day Journey with Those Who Found Their Strength in God (A Missions Devotional)

by M.R. Conrad

For thirty-one days, walk with those who walked with God.

How could God use me? I am only a programmer. I am only an engineer. I am only a housewife. I am only a student. I am only...just the kind of person God might use—someone who needs God's strength and knows it.

God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for Him. How did a shoemaker from rural England influence Tahiti, an island he never even visited? How did a an artist with heart problems launch a gospel work in the scorching heat of northern Africa? How did a schoolteacher start an evangelistic educational movement for women across India?

In this 31-day devotional book, catch a glimpse of what God did through everyday believers like William Carey, Lilias Trotter, Samuel Zwemer, Ann Judson, Oswald Chambers, Gladys Aylward, and many more who followed God in missions across the world. None were superheroes. All found their strength through dependence on God.

Endorsements:

“Conrad’s first book—Daring Devotion—was a gift to God's people. Can I suggest that Daring Dependence is an even greater gift? These glimpses into the lives of gospel servants, in a wide range of circumstances, illustrate God's true faithfulness to those who depend upon Him. Men and women of various nationalities, backgrounds, and ministries show us what it means to depend upon God in weakness. Insightful comments and reflection questions ending each day's reading effectively guide us to a daring dependence upon Christ. Daring Dependence is a powerful tool of encouragement for all those laboring in God's harvest.”
—Forrest McPhail, missionary to Cambodia and regional director for Asia, Australia, and Oceania, Gospel Fellowship Association Missions

“The world suffers from an annoying surplus of social media influencers who choreograph adventures to serve their vapid aim of winning themselves more followers. A Christian's adventures are better because the mission is better: to follow Jesus and win Him more followers. Conrad’s enthralling snapshots and well-aimed reflections foment in me the kind of dependent daring I need more of each day.”
—David Hosaflook, missionary to Albania, author, and founder and executive director of the Institute for Albanian and Protestant Studies

"Encouraging and convicting! Powerful missionary stories with applications for my daily life. These men and women were not great and mighty people but dependent people, trusting in the same great and mighty God we serve today."
—Hannah Bender, missionary nurse and director of educational services, Medical Missions Outreach

“In some ways, this missions devotional could serve as a history of Anglo-American missions of the past two centuries. Beginning with William Carey, that iconic missional figure of the late eighteenth-century, it takes the reader on a month-long journey of the way that ‘great things’ (to cite Carey) have been attempted for God by men and women who were flat-out dependent on our glorious Lord. Informative, stirring, challenging, it is a needed reflection—not only for anyone thinking of being a vocational missionary, but also for those who wish to support such in prayer, fasting, and finances."
—Michael A. G. Haykin, author and professor of church history, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

253 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 2022

About the author

Dr. Conrad has served in pastoral ministry since 2003 and in urban Asia since 2011 in church planting and leadership training. He, his wife, and their four children squeeze into a 700 square-foot apartment where he seizes rare moments of quiet to write amidst homeschooling, a cacophony of musical instruments, and the steady stream of visitors they so enjoy having in their home.

Reviews

[Carolyn Loescher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was encouraged and challenged reading this devotional book. Each chapter shared the inspirational stories but included as well some of the hardships and weaknesses of different missionaries’ lives which I appreciated. I loved the timeline chart of influence included. There were thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter which would make for great discussions for a book club.

[Miranda López · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource!

Daring Dependence presents one missionary story per chapter for 31 days. However the chapter does not zip through super-condensed versions of their lives, but rather a highlight from each person’s spiritual journey. Each day’s story also includes a corresponding scripture passage and three challenge questions to think through.

We sometimes view missionaries as super-Christians, but I was struck by the normal-ness of many of their struggles. Yes, they were often in unique situations, but if God can deliver his children from some of these more extreme circumstances, He can certainly care for me here at home.

The challenge questions were encouraging and convicting without imposing guilt on the reader.

I especially appreciated the recommended for further reading list! I’ve heard of many of the missionaries, but others were new to me and I look forward to adding some of their stories to my 2023 reading list.

I read a portion of the previous book (Daring Devotion) to my kids, and the questions and devotional format were over their heads. I’d recommend this book for teens and adults.

Daring Dependence is both a great introduction to missions, and an encouragement to continue in spiritual growth.