Out of the many things I have learned over my time at Camp Joy, the main thing is how much we need the Lord daily. There is a song we sing here during devotions that speaks to my heart every time we sing it. It goes like this:
In good times and bad times
happy or sad times
God deserves the honor and He deserves your praise.
No matter your circumstance,
you better find a way to thank the Lord
Thank Him for all he has done.
It is just so true. There is nothing we do through the course of our life, a year, a month, a day, an hour, or even a minute that the Lord doesn’t have a hand in. He knows our past, present, and future. He knows the good and He knows the bad. He knows exactly what we need when we need it. And there is not a day that goes by that we don’t need Him. It is something that may slip our mind daily (or mine at least), be thankful. No matter what is going on in your life, be thankful that you are alive and breathing and that God loves you enough to want you and to use you in His Kingdom. Because the honest truth is, God doesn’t need us… we need Him… but He still chose us.
“I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any circumstances I have learned the secret of being content- whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13
I have learned over the past five and a half months, obviously, that living in a different country, being miles and hours and time zones away from your family and friends, and abandoning everything that you had once known as comfort is very, very hard. Every day I feel more and more tested to rely solely on the Lord. But living in South Africa, even more so, I have seen the hardships, struggles, and pain of addiction. The men recovering and restoring their souls here at Camp Joy have given me a new sight for what it looks like to rely on the Lord. When these guys choose to leave behind their past that was once so consumed by drugs, gangsterism, crime, and violence, there is no choice but wake up every morning, by the grace of God, and rely on Him. When withdraws kick in, they have to look to Him. When the devil tries to attack them with shame and regrets of their past life, the have to remember God’s grace. When times get hard and conflict arises, they have to pray for the patience and endurance to carry on. When they leave this safe place here and temptations come, there is nowhere to go but to the Lord. When they are back in the real world and there are people who want to hurt them, they must seek safety and shelter in the Lord and trust Him. Daily, they know they can’t make it through without Him. Daily, they have to have complete reliance on Him to heal their bodies, hearts, minds, and souls. They are a constant reminded to me that God is bigger than anything I am going through. God is bigger than meth, bigger than heroin, bigger than drugs, alcohol, gangs, crime and all the sin of this world. It is a complete and daily dependence on God that we all need. Lord, we need You.
I am thankful for these guys for showing me what it truly looks like to become a new person and be reborn in Christ. I am thankful for these most unlikely friendships that the Lord has blessed me with. I am thankful that God has given me the chance and strength to minister and love these guys even when it is hard. I find myself thanking the Lord for life and new beginnings more and more. I am thankful that there is nothing in this world that we could ever possibly need like we need God.
Please keep the men of Camp Joy in your prayers as they journey through recovery, trials, and the new life they all have ahead of them.
