If you were to have told me a year ago that I was going to change my major three times, have all my future plans destroyed, and decide to take a year off school, I would have told you your crazy. I thought I had my whole life planned out… I was going to graduate college on time, apply and get into Med-school, meet an amazing guy, get married and have kids, while becoming a doctor and live happily ever after. Crazy right? I had my mind set and I had a timeline of when I wanted this all to happen. Little did I know God had something very different planned for me.
I have always been a planner and always loved control over what was going on in my life. So it was no surprise to anyone when I had my future planned out and was on a mission to complete it. However that all changed this past summer…I have been doing mission work in Haiti for more than a few years now, I would go a few times a year to love on the people and help wherever I was needed. The people had stolen my heart and it lead me to decided to intern this past summer and spend a month and a half in the place I loved. It started as a normal trip when I got there, but God quickly began to tug on my heart. I was raised in a Christian family and had always believed in Jesus Christ and all He did, but over the past few years had fallen away from my relationship with him. As I spent the summer in Haiti, He began to work in every way possible, from showing me people my age living fully for Him to convicting me in everything that was not of him.
When I returned from Haiti this trip I was not the same. I moved back down to school to begin my sophomore year of college, thinking everything would be the same once I got there, but it wasn’t. Honestly, it was the worst and best 3 months of my life. I began going to a new church, where I then began getting disciple by one of the most amazing girls I’ve ever met, Leah, but at the same time I was struggling in all my classes, which had never happened before, was questioning my major and if I was even supposed to be at school. All I wanted was to go back to Haiti, a safe place where I had begun to feel God, but that wasn’t a choice. That is when God wrecked my life. After multiple nights of calling my parents crying, feeling like I was going to have a nervous break down at coffee shops, and having to have Leah talk sense into me many nights, I finally gave up…and gave it to God. And that’s when I watched Him throw all my future plans away and tell me I had to trust him, REALLY trust Him.
Trust was a hard thing for me. Like I said I loved control, and now I was being told to give that all up. But in giving it all to Him, he gave me strength, peace, joy and a real relationship with him. The Lord began to open more doors for new opportunities and that I would have never had on my own, one being the World Race.
I can honestly say this is never how I picture my future to unfold, but this is better than I could had ever imagined and I am happier than I ever could be. I am so thankful that God is sovereign, that his plans are greater than anything we could think of. Ever since I decided to really lay my life down to him and let him take over I have had nothing but joy, regardless of the situation I may be in. This is crazy, He has blessed me more than I ever could deserve, and He is allowing me to now go out unto the world to share the Gospel and love His people. What more could I ask for? Is it scary? Yes. Is it hard sometimes to always trust? Yes. Do I have a lot to lean? For sure! But is it worth it? ALWAYS!!!
I am so excited for this new season in my life! The World Race is going to be an amazing opportunity to see God work in all we do, to live in a raw community with other believers, and to grow in Him and seek him daily.
“For I know the plans I have for you” Says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” –Jeremiah 29:11
“And we know God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them” –Romans 828
