“Lord you spoke those words, You spoke so tenderly.”
Sunday morning driving home on an open road, one hour out of Oxford, Mississippi, I had one of the most intimate moments with The Father. Tears were slowly streaming down my face as I had just said goodbye to my best friend for nine months. This was the first hard goodbye of many that would come in the next 13 days. As I was driving, thoughts were starting to fill my head as the reality of the next year hit.
Before now I only saw the “romanticized view” of the race- fully chasing God, the pictures on Instagram, the foreign countries, the adventure. But as I drove away from one of the most familiar faces I knew, realizing that it was the last time I would be in the company of friends like that for a while, everything suddenly hit as I was alone in that car.
Yes, this year will be amazing, but it will also be extremely hard. I will be pushed and stretched. I’m leaving my family for complete abandonment with the Lord. I won’t have a comfort zone and everything and everyone around me will be new. The reality- and the worry- started to consume every thought in my head.
As all of this was going on, I had United Pursuit’s “Your Love Changes Everything” playing on the radio. This song has been one I loved to listen to, but never stuck out to me. The Lord obviously had a reason for that because in that moment He spoke so clearly to me through those words.
You’re taking me by the hand again
Giving me strength to dance again
‘Cause your love changes everything
Your love changes everything
When my heart is frail
And when I’m incomplete
I will choose to receive
You love me, you love me, you love me
The road I was driving on was wide, hilly and open, covered on both side by tall trees. The blue sky and beautiful clouds in front of me and in my rear view mirror looked as if they went on forever. My tears of sadness and worry instantly turned into tears of admiration and praise as I saw this amazing picture the Lord has painted just for me.
I heard Him tell me:
Lauren, take my hand, come and dance with me.
It was an invitation to come and dance in the freedom and everlasting love He so willingly gives me. He wants me to join Him. He grabs my hand and invites me in – even when I am worried and scared.
Come with Me, your heart is weak and without My hand you are incomplete. I love you, Lauren, choose me.
With those words, the reality of the race – the scary, unknown reality- instantly became beautiful and inviting. The scene that was in front of me and the words that were spoken to me were a picture of His love. How it changes everything. The Father invited me to take His perfect hand, leaving fear and worry behind, and dance into a season of intimacy with Him.
-LS
I officially met my deadline and fly to Atlanta in 10 days. My team’s first location has changed to Cambodia for a month and we fly out on October the 5th. Thank you to everyone who has helped me get to where I am today- prayerfully and financially. God is working and He is so faithful. I still need $3,396 by January 31 to be fully funded, but I know He will continue to provide. Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare to leave.
