In preparation for the race so many things happened and I was feeling so many emotions. The enemy had really just been attacking me in anyway he knew how, some so much to the point I wanted to quit because I thought it would be easier to stay home and go to college like normal. It would have been so much easier to stay in my comfort zone. But there is no growth when we stay in our comfort zones. We don’t give God the space to move when we don’t follow the calling that is on our lives.
In the time I’ve spent here I’ve made amazing connections with my team but also with the our host team. God has been moving in crazy ways growing me and my squad.
Today I was reading in 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 12-13 and it says “Dear friends, do not be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed”
We are are going to face trials or many kinds some will be easier than others but in those hard times we need to rejoice that we get to suffer just like Jesus did for us.
That’s is such a hard thing to wrap my mind around sometimes, that we have to suffer too. But instead of saying “we have to” let’s say “we get to”. Jesus payed the price for us and there are so many times I feel unworthy of that. Unworthy of his death. Unworthy of his grace that he continues to give me. But this is a way we can take up our own cross and put some of that weight on our shoulders and suffer like Jesus did.
If I hadn’t kept growing and pushing through I would have never gotten to come to South Africa. I would have never made the deep connections I’ve made with so many others and I would have never gotten to experience God’s goodness through the ministry we are doing. He is moving in the place and in the people around me. God is breaking chains and tearing down walls. He is building us up with his love and grace so that we look more like him. I and everyone else here on my squad have experienced so much growth in just two weeks… who will I be in 9 months?
