I’ve realized recently that the month of August was a turning point.
As I look back on last month in Swaziland, I’m struck by all the things the Lord revealed to me and all the ways He changed my heart.
He showed me tendencies of independence that run deep. He gently convicted me and has been calling me and leading me to a place of deeper surrender and dependence on Him.
He broke my heart for the tragic things happening around me and through that heartbreak and brokenness He showed me His sovereignty in a new way. I am more confident that regardless of the scene my eyes take in and no matter how tragic the circumstance…above all, He is sovereign.
Lastly, He showed me, through my community, what it looks like to live authentically. It’s beautiful to be surrounded by a community of grace, where you are given the freedom to be yourself….which comes along with the freedom to fail, freedom to be ridiculous and freedom to live in vulnerability, without walls and censors. It has been truly liberating.
As I go into month 9 in Thailand, I’m so thankful for the lessons I learned in Swazi, and I know it was all in perfect timing…
I know the darkness here will sometimes be overwhelming and I will need to be certain, in the core of my being, that God is sovereign.
I will practice the daily art of surrender and press into learning how to walk more deeply into dependence on Him and the community that surrounds me…hopefully leading those that surround me to deeper dependence as well.
I’m also going to be intentionally vulnerable. I’m going to choose to live a life of authenticity. I’m tired of the walls and censors I’ve put up towards others, the Lord and even myself. I’m going to pursue the freedom of being fully myself, and through that bring others into my story and into their own vulnerability. As the World Race community says, “Vulnerability breeds vulnerability.” 🙂
Soon I’ll know more about what ministry will look like here in Chiang Mai, Thailand…but until then I want to reflect and celebrate the change the Lord brought in Swaziland.
A wise woman recently taught me about the benefits of reflecting and solidifying the truths God has revealed and the moments you've encountered Him deeply (kudos Betsy Garmon 🙂
So, here’s a video for you to see a little more of what my month in Swaziland was all about…
