As I type this blog post, I am sitting in a cafe in Romania, on hold for the…fifth time…with Air France, being gently reminded once again, “Patience, Cheree, patience.”
At training camp, not many moons ago, I was chosen to be on the logistics team for my squad. I’ve loved logistics so much, and I am so thankful that I was entrusted with this role. I can honestly say though, I never saw myself figuring out how to get 38 people around the world, at 18 years old. God has a way of calling us to do things that we would never pick for ourselves, because in our weaknesses, He is glorified. When we choose to be vulnerable in our weakness is when we can invite God to come into those weak areas of our lives and move in a way only he can. He teaches us things, and He we can even heal some things when we invite Him to. Right now He’s teaching me perseverance, patience, and trust.
The Lord tends to work at the very last minute in my life, always. He wants me to fully trust Him, even if it’s the last possible second before a deadline, and it doesn’t look like what He’s promised is going to get done. When I am forced to wait on Him; to be faithful, even if it’s the last second, I am forced to either trust or forget the promise and turn my back. So, as He is showing me He’s faithful, He’s also checking my faithfulness.
I am now continuing to finish this blog, and it’s the next day. I am no longer in a cafe, I’m in a church (thank goodness), and I am no longer on the phone with Air France. The plane ticket I was purchasing is one of the things God made me wait on. I have known that I have needed to buy this plane ticket for about 3 months now. I bought it yesterday, and there’s only four days left before I actually get on the plane. God just gave us the logistics information we’ve needed to know before I could buy my ticket.
Not knowing all the things, not having a plan, searching just to see things fall through has drove me crazy, but it’s just another way He’s been faithful. Last minute or not, He does what He says and that’s something so sweet. He’s faithful and He keeps His promises.
The perseverance and patience that He’s been teaching me, also comes in during the times of waiting. When I have to preserve through being frustrated at my laptop and travel plans – I choose joy. And, when I have to be patient while waiting for Him to reveal His way, or to show me favor while trying to book thinks on the cheap.
Growth is hard, learning things is painful, that’s because we have to replace what we’ve been doing for years and our pride about how we’ve chosen to do things with the fruits of the spirit and the good things the Lord has called us to walk in. But boy, is it a process! One of my squad leaders said, “Life isn’t about reaching an end result. You’ll never reach the end of growth in the Lord. It’s about the process.” You have to fall in love with the process to finish the process.
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Logistics has come with some pretty great friends, too. The other two racers that are also on the logistics team are John Mark Weaver and Justus Mckinley Hyde. I told them I’d give them a shout out.
