Motives also change at different points in peoples' lives as they struggle with suffering, encounter temptation, and mature in Christ. Missionaries are frequently overwhelmed by the tasks involved in their calling. They struggle with a difficult language, with a culture contorted by sin, with new churches fighting to survive in a non-Christian context, and with leaders who desire to do God's will but are tempted by the flesh. Consequently, missionaries despair. It is too difficult, overwhelming.
Despair leads to hopelessness and hopelessness to tunnel vision.
These missionaries can only see what is right before them. They fail to look above and fathom God's presence and mission to the world. Neither do they see below to comprehend both Satan's power and God's all-surpassing power over all principalities and powers. Some missionaries minister primarily out of ego. They believe that they will accomplish great things because they have made great plans, because they work creatively and ingeniously.