While in Florida for my best friends wedding, God woke me up early. I went to the beach expecting to sit and nicely watch the sun rise. As I stepped outside I could tell there were already dark clouds in the sky. I went out anyway. Sat semi close to the waves and Holy Spirit told me- get closer. I sat at the shoreline watching the birds dive-bomb the water and going crazy through the air. Right above the distant water line was an abyss of black clouds and an orchestra of lightning. Back and forth the lightning danced through the sky. Light sprinkles dropped onto my skin and the breeze became a light downward wind. The clouds became darker, the rain became harder and the waves crashed out of control. I trotted to some cover so I wouldn’t miss the natural light show that God had put on display for me. I was the only one on the beach. I sat under a beach owning. God dropped into my heart to listen to the song “IN OVER MY HEAD (Crash over me.)” by Jesus Culture
I listened to that song seriously a bazillion times while staring at the calm, quite delta in Botswana. There it was calm and beautiful, peaceful and strangely comfortable. As I listened the light rain became a full fledge storm. I looked at the dark clouds and the flashes of lightning that radiated off the white sandy beaches and towards the outlining of the storm there were clear skies, it was if the storm was just directly over where I was sitting. To the right, clear skies. To the left, clear skies. Directly over me, a raging storm.
Crazy.
Adventurous.
Uncomfortable.
Storm.
As I stared into the uncomfortable this part of the song played:
“& you crash over me. Lost all control but I am free.
I’m going under- I’m in over my head.
& you crash over me. & that’s where you want me to be.
I’m going under- I’m in over my head.
Whether I sink- whether I swim- It makes no difference when-
I am beautifully in over my head.”
Steamy tears ran down by face to the point I am sure I had ugly cry face. I stared straight into the abyss of the black storm when Holy Spirit spoke to me:
“You are called to the places that others have not and will not go. But even though the storm seems to rage- take steps deeper in what I have for you. I arranged the storm and I have full control. I have you in my hands- trust me. I have you. What you are about to walk may look like this storm- I haven’t called you to walk in the easy. Look towards me the master of the storm. Come to me and just step.”
The rain poured sideways and my salty tears off balanced the chill from the air. I took one last look at the magnificent beauty of the mighty storm. There was a sense of beauty. No longer did I see the scary but wanted to engage the uncomfortable faith needed to go deeper with Him.
I don’t know what you are looking at today, but I do know that when you take that leap of faith you have to depend on Him in a new level. It’s so FREAKING SCARY! But there is beauty knowing that God has to show up.
I leave in about a week to go to Atlanta for some leadership training before I get the opportunity to meet my team. I am scared out of my mind for this next season but in this sense of fear I face it with faith. I know that my Papa God is going to show up and take me to those next places.
You are loved!
<3
Ash
P.S. I am still raising money to make it to PERU. Would you consider partnering with me as I take the faith steps that God is calling me too? If so click the support me button at the top of my blog page. Thank you for PRAYING! SHARING! & GIVING! <3
