Introducing the one and only NATALIE JOY LYLES.
Natalie (or NatNat as I sometimes call her) has been my very best friend for as long as I can remember. She has been an inspiration to me to follow my dreams and to persevere through the darkest times. I am so encouraged by her testimony about how Jesus found her in the mess and lifted her up! I asked her to share some of her story here, but if you get the chance to ask her in person I’m sure she’d love to share more. She is a brilliant artist, a gifted writer, and an incredible mother to my nephew, Remy.
I’M SO PROUD OF YOU, NAT! KEEP FOLLOWING THE LORD AND CHASING YOUR DREAMS!!
For those of you that don’t know me. I am Luke’s sister, Natalie. Luke has been a tremendous blessing in my life and I know many others as well. I am honored to even say that I know him but to be of the same flesh and blood is unexplainable. He has asked me to share with you a little about how the World Race has been for me as well as some of my personal growth through God.
I’ve simply watched and read as you all have but to be able to know Luke’s growth and see it so prominently is amazing. Luke has always had an amazing heart and, as his sister, I have always felt obligated to protect it. I watched over him and kept him under my wing for many years. I am 8 years older, so I felt it was my duty. We have gone through many struggles. Some shared, some not. We still were always there for each other. This race has made that a little more difficult to be physically there for one another, but I still find comfort knowing that he’s praying for me no matter where he is, and I do the same for him. This has solidified the fact that we will always be connected. Not only through modern day technology but through God. I love to say that he is not only my earthly brother but my brother through Christ as well. I’ve watched him emerge from under my wing and form wings of his own. And man, can that boy soar. Well, I guess he’s technically a man now. A true man of God. This experience has been tough in ways, but I feel that it has definitely been more of a blessing. The struggles we endure are nothing compared to the glory God has lined up for us and I love seeing all the good he is doing through Luke, as well as the others involved. I am so very proud of all of them.
As I sit here and think of the message I am going to write, I am uncertain as to where my words where lead me. I hear a resounding voice telling me, “trust me,” and to simply, “write.” I prayed and read scripture and prayed some more before opening my computer to type this. I kept thinking something profound would stick out and I’d know exactly what avenue to take. The thing is, everything that God has done for me or shown me is profound in its own way. I have become more aware of this most recently. For the longest time, I thought I had a relationship with God. I did not. Did I ask Jesus into my heart? Sure, I did, but there’s so much more to a relationship with Christ than simply opening that door to let him in. When you invite a guest into your home for the first time, do you simply let them in and go about your business as usual? Cleaning, washing clothes, romping around in your pj’s? I don’t think many people do. When you invite a cherished guest into your home, you usually do everything in your power to make them feel at home. You cater to them. You may offer them food or water. Even after they leave your home, you will most likely continue to talk to them on other occasions; checking in. Possibly inviting them back into your home. If you fail to do these things, you will most likely lose touch and become distant. Time will pass, and this once cherished person will become more of a stranger to you. This can also happen with Christ. You still know him. He’s still around. You simply don’t invite him into your life as much as you used to or even at all. He becomes distant. It becomes harder to know his will or his plan. You become like a stranger. The best thing about God, though, is that no matter how long it has been since you’ve talked to him, he always answers when you call. He’s the epitome of unconditional love. He offers a true friendship that you will never experience through a fleshly manner.
I was first saved in our living room around the age of six. Our family was going through some things and, at the time, we weren’t attending church. My mother still made it a point to read us a bible story at home every Sunday morning. But, you see, I lost touch for a long time after that. I called on God in tough times but, even then, it was about what he could do for me rather than what I could do for him. I would ask and beg for a sign. I was lost in sea of confusion. What is my purpose? Where do I go from here? Even a shark in the water looked like a sailboat from afar. I was so desperate for a way out that I turned to the closest thing that I could find; taking it as a hand from God. The more I grabbed, the further I drifted. I never took the time to STOP and LISTEN. God was there all along. He was always listening and even guiding me (or at least trying). I was just too busy trying to incorporate my own wants into his plan that I found myself in deep, troubled waters. Amid drowning, he made himself known. It was right at 4 years ago exactly (I was 27). He opened my eyes and threw me a life saver. Literally. He sent me my son when I was unsure of whether I’d ever have a child of my own. He got my attention and I had no choice but to listen.
I didn’t come sailing out of the seas immediately or surf on top of the waves. No. I had to ride out the storm that I put myself in. It takes time. A lot of time. It took years to get me to where I was and it will take years to find my way back. God showed me truths that I had missed for a long time. He has held my hand through it all, but I have had to endure. I hit my lowest point throughout this storm and, without him sending me my son, I don’t really know where I’d be today.
After my son was born in January of 2015, I slowly started incorporating church into my life. For a long time, I didn’t find it necessary. I could worship God anywhere, right? But, I didn’t. I prayed and talked to God almost daily. I was always comfortable talking to him like an old friend. But, like I said before, I had a listening problem. Getting back in church gave me that time to just sit and listen to him speak to me. The more I went the more clearly, I could hear.
I opened my heart and mind fully. I wasn’t out of the waters just yet, though. Honestly, I’m still not. However, I see the shoreline and it becomes clearer every single day. There came a point where I knew a decision had to be made. The storm that I was in wasn’t just going to go away. There was a direct source of this and, even though I did get myself a mess, no amount of prayer would just take it away without some sort of action involved. So, to ensure that my actions and decisions were of his favor, I stopped everything and fell to my knees. In the most fervent prayer of my life, I asked him to guide me and I would follow. I made sure to make it known that it didn’t matter what he asked, I’d still follow. I was tired of trying to do things my way because it only ended in grief. I opened my bible and it was almost like the words smacked me right across the face. There was my answer. No doubt about it. It wasn’t necessarily the easiest answer to my problems, but it was his answer. So, I followed.
Today I’m still in the process of making sure I am following his will to the fullest. I am fully aware of the turbulence that lies ahead, and I know that this is not an easy route. Still, I follow. With each step that I have taken closer to his will, he has blessed me. With each decision that I make, he confirms it. With each unknown, I make it known to him that I have faith and he provides what I need almost immediately. This is a real relationship with God. This is what it’s like to live for Christ. What I thought I wanted in life doesn’t even amount to what he has in store for me. I sold myself short. Way short. God has bigger and better plans. I can feel it in my heart and I know that if I’m following his will, the blessings will surely follow.
So, I’ll make those tough decisions. I’ll follow his will no matter how uncomfortable it makes me. My way has always failed. Now I must truly follow my God. I must take what I know and share it with others that may have found troubled waters. I must love like God loves. I must show the world what a real relationship with God is like. Let me just tell you now, it’s the best thing ever. I have never been so full of joy and determination. I have never had so much hope for the future. I have never been so worry free that I can just breathe and say, “I know he has this,” and truly believe it. For example, this blog. I had no clue where it was going to go or where the words would come from… but, I trusted him and here we are.
I am excited to follow my God.
My God that has pulled me out of the darkest waters.
My God that has provided for me in ways that have no other explanation.
I don’t always know my next step, but I know who will be with me when I take it and that alone is all I need to be at peace. I live to serve my God that has blessed me so abundantly.
If you feel God pulling you in a direction, don’t ignore it. You’re only doing yourself a disservice by doing so.
God is always there to answer your call. It’s your turn to answer his. I promise you won’t regret it.
Feel free to follow her blog at https://natalielyes.blogspot.com/ and see the masterpiece that Jesus is painting with her life!
