Having been through training camp before in July, I came more prepared this time. I brought less clothing, and more snacks. I knew what to expect and I had an idea of how things were going to be run. To my surprise they had changed a lot of things so the sessions were different, the physical challenges were different, and of course my squad was completely different besides my lovely friend Kate Moore (who also switched over from H Squad). And I was excited about these things! I wanted to be challenged in new ways and experience different things, and that’s exactly what occurred. Training Camp was an awesome experience. God showed up and blew my mind once again! He always does.
The Beauty for Ashes retreat that I attended before Training Camp was wonderful. It allowed me to bond and to get to know some of the wonderful ladies on my squad before everyone else joined us for Training Camp. It was the perfect segue. But more importantly this retreat ignited a passion for women’s ministry within me. A passion to see women’s hearts redeemed and healed by the Father’s vast and unconditional love. Through this retreat the Lord really showed me how much He loves me and how much He loves each of His daughters, and sons too. He revealed His heart to me, and His longing to see all of His precious children to be redeemed and brought back to Him.
Our God is a God of redemption not a God that declares us damaged goods.
There are times in life when we make mistakes. We’re people. We do things that are harmful to ourselves, to the people around us, or things happen and other people hurt us. We’ve all been hurt, abused, tainted, or damaged in some way, shape or form. But that doesn’t mean that we are damaged goods. We may have been damaged, but we are not damaged goods. Our messes, our mistakes, our hurts, and our heartaches are never too big or too difficult for God to heal. No matter what you’ve been through, God can heal your heart, redeem you, and give you an abundant new life. There is true hope in Christ alone, and I want to share this hope with others.
So something that I was wondering about during training camp was:
How on earth do I relate to women, men, and children that I am going to meet who have been through tragic and traumatic things that I cannot even imagine ever going through. How do I relate to them? How can I use my story to show them God’s love and redemption?
What I realized is that although our stories are not the same on the surface, the issues at heart are the same. We are all people who have loved and lost, we have all been affected by death, and we have all been hurt, just as we all have experienced joy and laughter. And at the core, we all have a need for God. The people that I will meet need the exact same things I need. They need to know that they are loved, and that they are not alone. They need to know that God is there to help them in their messes, and to comfort them when they are hurting. How I can illustrate and bring God’s healing to these people is by sharing my story. By showing them how God showed up and saved me in my own mess, and telling them that He can do the same thing for them if they will let Him. All you have to do is say ‘yes’.
Each of us has a life story and if you allow God in, He will come in and turn your story into one filled with love and redemption. If you let Him in, and surrender your life to Him, He will take you to the most amazing places. He will give you a life better than you’ve ever even dreamed of.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11
Thank you for reading! I pray that God blesses you abundantly as you journey with Him!
All of My Love,
Jessica
