I’ve seen what it looks like to follow God wholeheartedly. And it’s beautiful. Encountering God in so many incredible ways and watching other people encounter Him and be changed is absolutely insane and awe inspiring.
It truly changes everything when you know God in a relationship. I love seeing the growth of intimacy between my squadmates and God. Seeing them (my squadmates) spend time with God, going to Him first when something is on their mind, seeing the joy they have when they talk about Him, seeing them worship. It’s incredible. Being able to see what living in an environment created for the kingdom is like, is amazing.
Not only have I seen what living as a child of God looks like between God and a person, but also how it overflows into relationships with other people. I’ve been surrounded by a group of young adults who love God and have been learning and growing with Him for 9 months, and when people understand how much they are loved by Him, it enables them to love their brothers and sisters so well.
I’ve gained such a beautiful family in my team, because they are abiding in the Lord. Throughout living life and sharing my spiritual walk with them, a lot of doubts and lies that have been deeply rooted in me have been brought to the surface. I’ve been believing things about God’s character and love, and about the extent of His grace for me, that aren’t true. When I am having a hard time, they are able to discern what God is saying and point me to Him.
They are encouragers, empathizers, comforters, cheerleaders, and warriors. One of my teammates had a picture of my team. We were armored warriors in battle, and my shield was down. They all surrounded me. I was in the middle, and they were holding their shields to cover the person next to them. That’s what these girls were for me. They fought for me when I was weak.
They are friends and sister! I feel so comfortable being goofy around them, dancing like a dork, and having a blast!
They are physical representations of Jesus and his unending love for me.
God has used community to show me what living life for Him, and with Him looks like. It’s shown me what love overflowing from a knowledge of His love looks like.
God has revealed Himself to me as a Father, which has been really cool. I’ve also begun to see Jesus as my husband, which has been really cool as well. He takes care of me. He is a safe place for me. He deals gently and patient with me, and He loves me. Learning is has been interesting, but really really cool.
Coming home (which I do in 6 days?!), I have the opportunity to practice what I’ve seen on my own. I won’t have the constant company of these amazing people, which will give me the opportunity to press into my personal relationship with God. This is going to hard, but really good.
Be praying for motivation to be open and intentional in my relationship with God. And for hope, truth, and a deep heart knowledge of God’s love for me. For my squad and team as we go home. Clarity for what’s next, and a desire to live out what I’ve seen and learned on the race, back home.
Also, I’m going to Project Searchlight a few weeks after getting home. All the Gap Year squad can come back to Gainesville, Georgia to meet up and be encouraged. I have to pay for the majority of my flights here and back, and also my flight home from Florida (where my squad flies into) to my home in California. If you’d like to contribute to those costs, you can email my dad at [email protected]
*don’t donate on my blog site, because it won’t go to me*
Thank you all so much for reading!!!
