The tears instantly fell as Paul released the plans of Team Oasis. “We’re going to Greece.”
“Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will act.”
Psalms 37:4-5
I thought of Ashley. I thought of Romania. I thought of the visions, the words, the dreams. God really had spoken. It’s really come true.
God speaks; we listen. It’s as simple as that. But is it always? Can we always be sure we’re hearing from him?
While in Romania, we were asked as a team to pray into where the Lord may be calling us. The answer was overwhelmingly clear: Greece. Sure other countries came up, bouncing in and out of our visions, but in the end, only one country remained: Greece. I remember specifically the first time I heard it. We agreed to pray for a few days, not discussing it at all with one another, and then coming back together later to talk. And when we did, I wasn’t the only one who had heard it. God was really telling us Greece–or so we thought.
As much as we loved Hungary (and trust me, we loved Hungary), we couldn’t help but be upset when we learned Greece was not our destination. How is it that 7 of us all heard Greece and that’s not even an option? How is it that we’re suddenly not hearing from the Lord?
No one was more upset than Ashley. Ashley has been praying since the day of her acceptance to the Race to be rerouted to Greece. She left a piece of her heart there, and it’s obvious. Greece is the desire of her heart.
Last month, I watched Greece practically torment Ashley, as daily reminders that we were not there would show up. Whether walking in the mall and seeing a Greek flag or eating a gyro, something Greek would show up every day. My heart broke for her.
Lord, why did you send us to Hungary when you were telling us Greece? I love this country, I really do, but it’s clearly not the desires of our heart. Lord, are we not hearing your voice? Am I not hearing your voice? I thought you spoke to me. How could I have been so wrong?
The month was better than ever imagined and before we knew it, we found ourselves in Turkey with new teammates by our side and answers to prayers.
The tears instantly fell.
“We’re going to Greece.”
Lord, I am just so overwhelmed with how good you are. The way you made Greece still happen for Ashley after it seemed like every little chance had gone out the window. And not just Greece, Lord. The specific city you spoke to me. You are speaking to me, Lord. You are using me. And I can’t help but be overwhelmed with how good you are. I saw Lord the way daily Ashley was reminded of Greece. I saw Lord that that’s where her heart was. And I remember how discouraged our team was after all 7 of us heard you speak Greece and it didn’t happen. I remember us questioning whether you were actually speaking to us. We didn’t want to question but we’re only human and we did. We became discouraged and we lost precious time of praising you when all along we should have just trusted and known it would be done in your timing-that you’re a God who’s always faithful in His promises. Lord you are so good and just the way you have chosen the one team to go to Greece, the one team with Ashley on it is overwhelming to me. It speaks so much as to who you are. You truly do delight in us. You truly do give us the desires of our heart. Lord I am just overwhelmed at your magnitude, how good you are, and the things you do for your children. I’m sorry for ever doubting my worth or you using me. I love you my Lord and I will praise you ‘til the end of my days. Great is your faithfulness oh Lord and mighty, awesome, and wondrous are your works, blessings, and love.
