The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken
Week 12: Part Eleven — Returning to Somalia (Full Circle)
Read Part Eleven of The Insanity of God (Nik's eventual return to and continued engagement with Somalia and East Africa). Key passage: Isaiah 55:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:58.
Previewing Week 12 of The Insanity of God
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
The journey that began with devastation in Somalia is not finished — and in returning to the place of his greatest brokenness, Nik discovers what resurrection looks like in geography.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Isaiah 55:10-11 promises that God's Word 'will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.' How does the Ripkens' story in Somalia embody this promise — even when visible fruit was agonizingly slow to appear?
2.Nik's return to the world that broke him is itself an act of faith. Is there a place, relationship, or calling in your life that you have fled from because of the pain associated with it — and to which God might be calling you back?
3.1 Corinthians 15:58 closes with Paul's exhortation to 'always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.' How does the arc of Nik's story serve as a lived-out commentary on the phrase 'not in vain'?