Before applying for the World Race, I spend some time in prayer and thought about it. When you say yes to something, you are also saying no to other things. Serving the Lord overseas for a year meant being away from friends and family. I would likely miss out on one of my best friend’s weddings. I would be committing not to date for another year. I prayerfully considered all these things. I knew following God’s calling required sacrifice. I chose to follow him.
I never anticipated one of my best friends would receive a cancer diagnosis. What?!?!? How could this happen Lord? How can I leave my friend during one of the darkest seasons of her life?
As I cried and questioned and wondered what this means… I felt a gentle reminder in my spirit. “It’s a shock and surprise to you Andrea, but I wasn’t surprised. I knew the timing of your leaving, and I knew it was same timing as Brittany’s season of cancer. Follow my calling and trust me to take of her.”
As a fixer, this is not easy for me. This is something the Lord is continually working out in me. I can’t change the situation. I can trust and believe God is in control. He will heal her and take care of her. He will have others step up and be there with her through her treatments and bad days. To pray with her in person and hold her hand. Because he called me elsewhere, I am not the person for that job. I will pray for her and check in with her, but I cannot fix it. I must surrender it over to God and trust that he loves her more than I do. That he knows what he’s doing; he’s got it all under control and doesn’t need my help.
Isaiah 26:4: Trust in the Lord always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.
I am so thankful I serve a good and faithful God. That he is my rock. He is also Brittany’s rock.
