Hello and welcome to the first blog post of 2016. Take a seat and enjoy reading about my year because I know you want to. 🙂
This time last year, I was trying to figure out the whole God thing. I will put it blatantly: I did not figure out the whole God thing. Wow, I was confused. Have you ever thought that you knew somebody but then they did something completely out of character and you’re like wait, what? That’s what happened when I was trying to get to know God. You see, I didn’t read the Bible or pray. I just started going to church and my idea of God was the Christians at church that have the “holier-than-thou” aura surrounding them constantly. I thought that going to church would cleanse me for a few days and then I could just go back next Sunday and repeat the process. Going through the motions isn’t a sin, right? At least I’m going to church, right? Wrong. I was becoming complacent.
Fast-forward to June (this is where God does that thing that was out of character for the God that I thought I knew). He wrecked me. But, but, God… why? I’m your beloved daughter… why would you want me to fall into the trap of distress and uncomfortability? He totally threw me for a loop, and I am so glad He did. I knew that the devastation my heart was facing after a week-long missions trip was probably normal for a lot of people, but I couldn’t let it just fade away over time. I had a void in my heart, and I was in denial about what would fill it.
Here is where I did what I should’ve done a long time ago: I picked up my bible and began to actually read it. I started praying, not just at night but all throughout the day. This is where 2015 actually starts to get good.
I found the freedom in surrender when I laid my life down for God and let Him do the deciding for me. It’s kind of like playing the game of LIFE, except it’s totally not. You don’t spin the needle on a spinner thing and randomly get a number and move that many spaces and see if you got lucky. With God, you’re always lucky. Except I don’t give lucky the credit for my life, I give the credit to God.
In 2015, I graduated high school, went to Guatemala, enrolled in college, dropped my classes the day before college started, prayed prayed prayed, and said “Ok, God.” That “Ok, God,” led me to some awesome people, wow-worthy opportunities, and a better understanding of my Father with a side of overwhelming love (ok, the love isn’t on the side. The love is more like the blanket that you cover the entire thing with. You can’t do anything for/with God, without love). (That was too long and beside the point, sorry).
It’s the second day of 2016; I haven’t done much but lay around the house and watch Grey’s Anatomy, but it’s already off to a much better start than 2015. I know and love God with all my heart and feel secure in Him, it really can’t get much better than that. I officially leave in 9 months (technically 8 months, 4 weeks, and 1 day), OH, and it’s a leap year. I love leap years. I just think they’re really neat, and February totally deserves an extra day.
Here’s to a year of stretching my comfortability, yearning to know more of God every single day, and sharing the gospel, whether it be in the states or on the race.
Thank you so much for your support, I hope 2016 is a fantastic, God-filled year for you! I love all of you!
