“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
-Jesus, John 14:27
For those of you who don’t know, this week has been one crazy whirlwind of different emotions, adventures, tragedies, and plane rides. In the span of one week, I have been on four different planes, spent time in five different airports, spent an equivalent of 4 hours in two Walmart’s, and driven over the Mexican/American border twice. You see, this past Monday, I left snowy and cold Nebraska for Mexicali, Mexico to spend the next three months with my friend Shaina, teaching English and serving at an orphanage. We left my house for the airport at 4:45 AM, and didn’t actually reach the orphanage until probably around 8 PM that same night. But it was good, and we started to move into our new “home” for the next few months.
However, on Tuesday, I received some surprising and saddening news. My father had passed away suddenly that morning, and the funeral was going to be that Friday. Honestly, I wish I could tell you what I was thinking at that exact moment, but I really have no idea. It seemed sort of surreal. I didn’t really know how to react, but I did know that I had to get home for the funeral, and to be with my family. I also didn’t know how to go about that either. But God’s hand was in the process in the form of a family friend with beautiful generosity, and a youth pastor and his wife who stayed in Mexico for an extra four days so I could go home. I actually had very little involvement in the process of getting me home for the funeral, besides getting on the plane.
And so, I returned home. I have been here in Nebraska for about two days now, and the funeral was yesterday. It was a beautiful service, with all of his family and friends there. To all who came, we are so thankful to you, it was very heartening to see how many people’s lives my father has touched. And although I may complain about how many hugs I received that day, the support and love that I, and all of my siblings, were shown that day was truly so wonderful and we are so grateful to have such amazing people in our lives.
This week, I learned a lot. I learned that family will always support you, will always be a shoulder for you to cry on, and will always give the best hugs. I learned that the valley of the shadow of death really really sucks, and sometimes it’s easy to fear evil, and to believe that God is nowhere around you. And then I learned that God doesn’t leave you alone, no matter where you are. Whether you’re on an airplane, questioning Him, or on a mission in Mexico. I learned that The Lord is the only bringer of real peace, of real life, and of real joy. I learned that it’s okay to give all your sadness, grief, anger, your everything up to The Lord, to let Him hold you in His hands during your times of heartbreak and trials.
And, most of all, I learned that before anything else, I am a daughter of The Good Father, the One who holds the whole world in His hands, and will work everything out for my good. And yes, this week sucked. It sucked really bad. But I know that all this is not in vain. I know that my father is with my Everlasting Father, and I know that this momentary affliction will not be able to outweigh the glory that is to be revealed to me in Christ Jesus. I know that, ultimately, God is using this to not only work in my life, but in so many more lives who knew my dad.
And so, I am excited to return to Mexico tomorrow with a brand new perspective. I am ready for whatever else this world has to throw at me, knowing that My God is bigger than all of it, and that He will never leave my side. He will never leave or forsake me. And He will never leave you either. Our God is greater, friends. Let that hold you and comfort you this night, as it has held and comforted me.
God Bless,
Katie Rhodes
