This is an open letter to all of those that will go on the world race and run into hard times, have gone on the world race and need a reminder of God’s goodness, or have absolutely nothing to do with the world race but could still learn from the lessons God is teaching to others. It’s a tad hard to write, so bare with me.
Last month my team was in South Africa. We were at a place called LIV village which is a little outside of Durban. It’s beautiful. We had amazing scenery, great food and all the loving people around us that we could handle. We wanted and needed for nothing. We were part of a family that loves God and loves people. You could say that it was perfect.
But we know that when things are great on the outside, satan tries to mess everything up on the inside. He wants to torture you as much as possible so that your faith dwindles and you start to question if God is there and if He loves you anymore. That is what last month was for me. Torture.
When we got to Durban I had known that my aunt was very ill with cancer and that she would be passing away any time. She was so strong and was trying so hard to hold on until I got back home. She didn’t make it all the way, but she was strong enough to hold on until I got to South Africa. We had been there just a few days and I got the news that she had passed. It was hard and I was so upset that I was in Africa instead of at home. I cried. A LOT!
When I got the news I knew that God had already been prepping me to run to Him first when it happened. So I did. Immediately after getting the news I flew past everyone in the living quarters and went to be alone with God. He showed me scripture after scripture about grieving and newness of life after death. He reminded me that my aunt made the decision to accept Christ as her Lord and Savior a month or so before she passed away. Although we are grieving here on earth, there is nothing but gain I Heaven because she is now with Jesus.
The day after my aunt passed, my mom had a huge surgery on the heel of her foot. She has had a problem with it for so long and it finally gave out on her. As she went in for surgery I was again a tad frustrated with the fact that I wasn’t at home so that I could be with her. Once again, I went straight to the word to be alone with God. Every time I talk to her she tells me of the difficulties she has just getting from one room to the next. Things that usually take her 20 minutes now take her an hour and a half. Although my heart aches to be home, I know there is something important I must finish here first.
Again, God was in the situation. He could have allowed her foot to give out any other time, but He didn’t. He waited for the perfect time and then let it happen. She is now recovering well and so thankful for the healing of God.
Not too long after that I endured a breakup with my boyfriend of a year and a half. He told me that he no longer had feelings for me and that it was time to part ways. It hurt. I didn’t see it coming. But once more I sought out the Lord for His peace and understanding of the situation. I accepted his desire to stop seeing each other and pressed into what God was going to show me through it all. Two weeks later I found out that he had been cheating on me with his ex-girlfriend and they were 7 weeks pregnant. I think it’s safe to say that I was hurt quite a bit more after hearing that.
In that time I continued seeking Christ and what He was saying to me through my situation. So many people that loved me (and him) were getting so angry at what had happened and I could just see the hate growing inside of them. I think it was expected that I would lash out, but I didn’t. I simply told everyone that we are to choose love in these times instead of hate. Right now they (he and the other girl) are the ones that need our prayers the most because they are going through something that will change their lives forever. I am ok. I have been resting in the love of Our Father and the plan that He has for me is one of great importance. This is the time for us to stand in the gap for those who have done us wrong. To pray over their lives and to seek God so that He may use this for the good of His kingdom instead of allowing satan to destroy us. I choose to cast out hate and take up love. And I choose to try to see them with the eyes of Christ.
I have gone through a lot on the world race. There are moments when I wish that I could have been home, but instead God showed me the importance of being away so that I can fully rely on Him. I am a different person now than I was when I came on the race. I have matured in my walk with the Lord and I daily choose love because love conquers all.
If I have learned anything from last month, it’s that when we are faced with hard situations we are meant to go straight to the word and spend alone time with God. We are blessed with people here on earth to support us and pray for us, but it is Christ that we should be finding our strength in. We literally have the opportunity to fall into the arms of Jesus and lay everything down at His feet.
When you go through the valleys of life, rest in knowing that even when it’s painful, God will be right there to hold you and speak truth into your life. It’s His honor to love you. So let Him. He cherishes you like no one else ever can and He chooses to pursue you for everything that you are.
All my love,
Danielle
