A while back in Guatemala I wrote down a journal entry for that day and titled it “Life Happens.” It talks about the day my dog died and how unexpected it was. And how people get sick or a really bad accident happens, or the first month of the race wasn’t at all what I planned for. I questioned why I saw so many drunk men passed out on the side of the road or why our neighbor was beating his mother. And so on and so on about unplanned and unhoped for events. I was in a really bad place in Guatemala. A place where my heart was hard, my defense was up and it was me against everyone else. I didn’t have a passion for God and frankly I really didn’t care to be where I was at. I was angry with my circumstances and I was upset that nothing was going my way. Little did I know God was so good to me during that time. He was my back bone and my strength even when I couldn’t feel it at all. He gave me the strength to carry on. Malaysia was a very sweet time and hard time between Jesus and I. I struggled and grew a ton. He was patient with me and he showed me love more then I ever imagined I would get. In Malaysia unplanned things happened again. More disappointments and hard times. Ministry didn’t feel very fruitful, I was upset with the way I looked, I was battling my flesh and my spirit. All things God wanted me to grow in and struggles he wanted me to have. But God was still good, he was still providing. Then Africa came and wow so many unplanned things have happened. I didn’t understand why Africa is the way that it is. Why kids are starving or extremely dirty. Why men rape innocent girls, or why the kids poked a hole in our water hose. I felt myself getting so angry and hurt at what sin does. My heart has been heavy in Africa but it’s also been hopeful. Life sometimes slaps you in the face over and over again. But yet God has still been good.
The biggest lessons I have learned from this is that God always keeps his promises. And he’s always with you through anything.
“The Lord will keep all his promises. He is faithful in everything he does.” Psalm 145:13
Here’s a few verses about Gods promises. I encourage you that if any of these relate to you, write it everywhere. Memorize it. Live it. Breath it. These are powerful words.
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” Hebrews 13:5
“He gives strength to the weary and increases power of the weak” Isaiah 40:29
“You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13
“I have loved you with an everlasting love” Jeremiah 37:2
“I am full of mercy and grace and I overflow with love” Psalm 103:8
“He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” Psalm 91:4
“The Lord will keep you from all harm, he will watch over your life. The Lord will watch your coming and going. Both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8
God promises grace, mercy and love. He promises that you will have find refuge in him. It’s completely out of his nature to be anything less. He promises you strength. He promises a prosperous life. There’s so much more he promises. Don’t forget the good that’s coming. Keep ridin’ in the struggle, his promises are surely coming.
