Team changes happened.
This is month two with my new team. I said goodbye to Kirsten, Erika, Kenna, and Monica.
Last team picture with Redeemed and Remade
I won’t lie. I thought I was going to be upset. Bitter even. The growth that happened on my last team was a direct result of the Holy Spirit at work. And I didn’t want it to end. I believed I was going to need to process, and then take the time to walk through the process of team changes. Like- yes, the Lord is doing something new, and yes, I am to have faith and remain flexible, but it is okay to cry some tears and even admit that I am angry. I’m very aware that my feelings will never cause God to fall off His throne.
Change has never been easy for me. One of God’s character traits that I have found to be incredibly healing is that He is “immutable,” which is defined in Webster’s as “not capable of or susceptible to change.” A scripture verse that clearly communicates this concept is found in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” So when a change comes my way, whether it’s in a friendship or any other area of life, I must cling to the One who never changes. I must stand on the solid ground of His promises. These verses have helped me through this time of transition.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28
A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17
Team changes are unavoidable on the World Race-they will happen. But that’s also life. Through this team change, I’ve learned to trust God a lot more.
In God’s Word, we are called to make a “sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15). The word sacrifice communicates that in all likelihood it will be quite challenging and possibly even painful. We praise God because He is worthy of our praise and because we trust His holy Word even when it hurts. Sometimes we are called to act in loving ways even when it hurts.
The day came when I had to watch Kirsten, Erika, Kenna, and Monica all get in vans with their new teams and drive away. What I needed was to call on God to give me the strength to help them grab their bags and load the van. God called me to send them off with a “sacrifice of love.” And it hurt. And it was hard.
When I look back over my life, I can’t help but notice that the times I grew the most spiritually and emotionally were the times of my greatest pain and discomfort. These stretches of suffering caused me to press in closer to my God and to get to know Him in deeper ways. I do not understand why times of suffering result in growth; I just know that God’s Word teaches us that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5).
So as I continue on the World Race with a new team, I can rest in the fact that God is my true provider. He is able and willing to meet every need that I have. In this season, I get to pour out my heart to Him and wait patiently and expectantly for Him to meet my relational needs.
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I am currently on my new team: Hessed Joy. Hessed is the Hebrew word for loving-kindness. I get to continue this journey with Paxtyn and Kaitlyn all while beginning new relationships with Susan, Kat, and Madison. And we all get to do it together. And it’s already been hard. We’ve experienced both hurt and the hessed joy that comes from pressing in and stepping into this season of healing together.
New team: Hessed Joy
