Where I expected to be at this time in my life: in a college classroom, listening to a professor.
Where I actually am: in a sketchy alley in Cambodia painting a sunset. HA
“We can make our own plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9
I made my “plans“- College. Sorority. Degree. Fancy job. Nice family, nice house… ‘the American dream.’
& then, He determined my steps.
I’d like to call it, ‘The Most Divine Interruption:’ Jesus entered my world.
He became the most precious treasure of my life, the very purpose for living.
Passions were born within me, desires changed, values & priorities flipped upside down. I decided in the depths of my heart that He was beyond worthy of following, no matter what that entailed. That’s just how it is when you fall in love. When you see Him for who He really is you can’t help but fall before him in surrender, adoration, & worship. It’s a natural response to His love.
& so…that decision brought me here. In this alley. In Cambodia.
I don’t know exactly why. But I do know He’s here with me, leading me every step of the way. Sometimes, He has a crazy itinerary for His servants- aka I never imagined at 19, I’d be sitting with meth-addicted street people in Colombia, holding children living in the Garbage Dumps of Ecuador, preaching to a Buddhist congregation in Thailand, or here, painting alleyways in Cambodia. But He knew all along, even before I was born, that I was purposed for these things.
He’s put something on my heart that I want to share:
Wherever you are right now, He has you there for a reason. He wants to use you to do infinitely valuable Kingdom work. Whether you’re in a middle school classroom, a high school football team, in college Greek Life, a Restaurant employee, or a CEO of a huge business- whether you’re living at home, or across the world in foreign places- God is waiting with a handful of opportunities for you to take hold of. Maybe He wants you to drop everything & move across the globe, or maybe He wants to you simply buy the homeless man some McDonalds on your way home from school. No act of love is more valuable than the other.
Love is love; & He’s calling all of us to love in creative, sometimes illogical ways. So I encourage you, don’t let an opportunity to love someone pass you by today. Step into what He’s calling you to do where you are now. Go change the world!! 🙂
XOXOXO, brynley
