This month our whole squad is staying in the guest house at HopEthiopia. There is no WiFi. So instead, our squad has become bookworms. We are passing books around like hot potatoes. Lol
One book I read was “Wild and Free” by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan. I recommend this book! It’s all about how we are wild and free in God.
Honestly, I struggle to believe a lot of what this book is about. I believe it for women in Christ but when it comes to myself…I doubt. In Europe with Team SONshine, we dug deep into who we are in Jesus. I made a poster of verses telling me who I am in Jesus. I prayed it over myself. In Romania, I felt like after two months I didn’t feel any different. I still was doubting and struggling to believe what God says of me. So I avoided. Instead of being intentional in my quiet time I read a little bible and a lot of Harry Potter.
Fake. Failure. Procrastinator. Hider. Doubter.
All the lies I had worked at replacing came flooding in. It’s funny how often I try in my own strength to draw closer to God. But God just wants me to surrender and obey His Word. Surrender all my fears of failing, approval and striving. Surrender all my plans, dreams and expectations. And then step out in faith.
The book reminded me, “Because we never need to be afraid of failure – not when God’s grace will always be there to break our fall.”
God is way bigger than my struggles. He sees me and holds me. I’m the one who limits God but God is not limited by my failings. His grace is more than enough for me, in fact it is overflowing. No matter how many mistakes I make or how many times I try to avoid my thoughts, He is faithful.
After I read that quote, we experienced an Ethiopian church. It was loud, passionate and completely in another language. We stood up and then sat down. Different men would get up and pray so boldly. Their prayers turned into songs. Throughout, men and women prayed out loud to God with abandon. It was beautiful.
In the middle of service, a toddler behind me got my attention. She was adorable. She played with my bag and hand. She waddled to her mother and back to her older sister. At one point she was waddling toward her mom and all of the sudden she started falling backwards. But her daddy swooped in and balanced her so that she could keep walking. And she didn’t freak out afraid from her almost fall, she just took another step.
God reminded me that He was like that dad. I didn’t need to be afraid of the future or feel guilty from the past. My Father in Heaven sees me. He is watching me and His grace is more than enough to cover me. His grace is there to break my fall.
With God on my side, who can be against me? I am wild because of God’s wild love. I am free because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!
I’m a process…so I’m still declaring and trusting in God. But I am God’s masterpiece and it’s His job to continue the work in me.
So Father, I trust you and I love you.
I love you, friends. I am praying that you will receive God’s wild love and freedom. Friends, this life is all about Our Father. He is the main character of the story. And being wild and free gives Him the glory. Let every breath praise our Lord and King! Amen.
