This will be a shorter update because it’s 2 AM here and I’m supposed to be at the coffee shop I’m doing ministry at 7:30 am tomorrow! (Oops)
BUT I have a huge prayer request for anyone reading this blog. I met a girl today named Ilzaan in the most God appointed way. I had been sitting outside listening to Hillsong’s new album when I noticed a girl sitting alone outside the hostile two houses down from me. Immediately I felt God nudging me to go sit with her. I was terrified. I’m normally not afraid of speaking to strangers, but the thought of rejection really held me back in this scenario. I kept telling myself maybe she just needed some alone time, or maybe she just wanted to listen to music too. But God continued to nudge me, so I got up and VERY SLOWLY walked to her.
She looked extremely surprised at first, but the exact moment we made eye contact I knew God had a special friendship in store for us.
I simply asked if she was okay, and she said “no, not really.”
This sparked a lengthy conversations of things that are weighing on her heart.
She is holding on to shame and guilt and anxiety of things that have long passed. She has doubts that God really hears her or loves her. She said she hasn’t felt his love in years. She only sees her mom on weekends while here at boarding school and craves deeply to be with her mom. Her relationship with her dad is suffering. She likes a boy who is not a good role model for her but doesn’t feel strong enough to let go of the relationship.
Ilzaan is a lot like me just a few years ago if you really think about it. Different situations of course, but similar themes.
We are starting to meet each day at 5 pm (10 am Central Time) and we are going to be going over scripture and praying for each other. I would love and appreciate nothing more if you would be willing to pray for these conversations and for her sweet heart to know fully the Love of Christ.
Today she said to me, “I feel like you are an answered prayer. I feel like this is the first time God has heard me in so long.”
Pray that God reveals to Ilzaan that he never left her. Even in the moments she felt alone and unheard. He was still present.
