Over the past week I have felt discouraged.
Scared of what is happening to this country, tired from school and work, worried about the funds I need to make this trip happen, and doing everything but what is important.
Often times I find myself not using every opportunity I have to tell EVERYONE what this mission is all about. More than once I have stopped myself from making use of a great fundraising idea because I’m not sure if it is appropriate to the setting. For example: will people be offended at school if they know the real reason I am going on this trip, is it okay to talk about it at my work place openly, and should I bring it up to someone who hasn’t even asked questions about my intentions on the trip. All of these questions and more have laid heavily on my heart the past week. So I challenged myself to step up. I spoke openly.
In correlation to me doing this, tough conversations began to come up between me and other students. They had questions. Not just about the trip, but about my faith that took even me by surprise. These questions in which I didn’t even know all the answers to. I began to pray, but rather than God giving me insight, I felt far from God. And once again… I felt discouraged.
Until tonight…
Tonight I had the chance to finally watch God’s Not Dead 2. Now of course the problems that the main character is facing are different, but they are also the same. Satan puts these obstacles in our path to try and knock us down. To try and get us to disown our faith. It almost feels like right when you are great with God, Satan comes in and essentially spiritually attacks us. Using lies such as: I can’t say this because it will offend someone, and I have freedom of speech but when it comes to religion.. that is just not something you talk about. See, me and the main character are similar, our faith is on trial in different ways. Satan is testing us, and God is waiting to see if we stand up for what we believe in.
In the movie something along these lines are said when the main character is saying that when she prays she feels far from God…
When a teacher gives a test, when the hard times come, they are silent.
God is there. Not only that, but he has everything planned. Every attack, every hardship, every temptation that you will ever face, he knows about. During the test, he is waiting to see if we can overcome with the knowledge that he has given us before the test. This being said we have the Human Right to speak what we believe and to hold strong to the truth. To be bold.
I know this was quite a long post and yes I am almost done, but I want to leave you with a verse:
“5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.” Proverbs 3
With this we need to speak openly and stop worrying. God is in control.
-Alyssa
