Within the last month, I have graduated from college, moved out of my apartment that I shared with my best friends and began another summer serving at my home away from home, Camp Lone Star. Trying to swallow the reality of all of this has been emotionally taxing, to say the least. As I reflect upon the last year, I am overwhelmed by the journey I have walked. My senior year included many mountain top experiences and even more treks through valleys.
In early January, I attended a social gathering where I ran into a friend who happens to be a past World Racer. I discussed with her the excitement I have for the Race, the stresses of finishing school and being overwhelmed with the fundraising process. Seeking for wisdom, I asked her how she did it. She replied with, “Write about what God is doing in your life.” Hm. My immediate reaction was filled with excitement, “I can do that! That sounds just too easy!” But as I have spent the last month and a half processing just how God is moving in my life, I could not think of a more daunting sentence of advice to take up.
Hard, but good: The three words that have left my mouth more than I would like to count this year. As I reflect upon the journey I have walked over the past 10 months, I am reminded of God’s truth found in Romans 5: “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5: 3-5). Each and every day, before our feet hit the ground, our Heavenly Father eagerly awaits for us to walk the path he has prepared for us. Jesus does not call us to walk where he has not walked; He goes before us.
Was this past year hard? Yes. But was there growth in relationships, necessary learning experiences and unconditional grace through Jesus? Absolutely. Following the verse in Romans, Paul reminds us that “while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). Even in my moments of weakness, depravity and rebellion, Jesus chose the cross. I know no greater love than this. God has already begun to use this year’s trials for His glory. I have been taught more about what it looks like to love others the way Jesus loves me, and I have learned more about the magnificence of Jesus’ love for me in my complete and utter brokenness.
Learning to work your butt off for top notch grades: Hard, but good. Leaving your best friends while preparing to follow the individual callings given: Hard, but good. Learning to love others when they choose to reject or hurt you: Hard, but good. Being confronted with your depravity as a sinner: Hard, but good. Jesus’ truth: Hard, but good. As a Christian, I am not called to live a life that would be labeled: “Easy, but mediocre.” I am called to walk in such a way where moments of suffering produces perseverance, showing me HOPE in my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Personal update and prayer requests: As I begin another summer at camp, please pray that I can be focused on the ministry here while also preparing for training camp and launch in August and October! Pray that more partners in the Gospel would feel the call to financially support me.
Also! I have just opened an Etsy shop to assist in fundraising! Visit https://www.etsy.com/shop/TulipTreeDesignsShop to see the full shop of hand crafted scripture art and help support!
