These past 3 months in Nicaragua have been so insanely good, but not the type of ‘easy goodness‘ that comes along. It’s the type of ‘goodness that you have to fight to discover’. Ya know those events you find yourself stuck in and begin to wonder, ‘How the heck did I get put in this situation?’ Ya, well I’ve had a lot of those.
Those events are so interesting because when bad things occur in our lives, sometimes it’s hard to believe that something good will come out of it.
I use to be a very dramatic person, especially when I was little. I acted like it was the end of the world if things didn’t go the way I planned. I would stomp my feet all around the house with my arms crossed over my chest with my stubborn grumpy face game going strong, just waiting for my mom, my dad, or my sister to budge. Usually it was over something so silly, such as, not getting an ice cream cone or a toy that would only entertain me for 5 minutes of my life.
I’ll admit I was a bit of brat when I was young.. but you’d be glad to know that I’ve come along way since then.
I read through the book of Job and Psalms and it helped me find peace in the situations I found myself in. Job and David go through some really hard situations that are far more intense then I’ve ever been in. It helped me be more thankful that I still have it easier than they did. It’s relatable on a lesser degree and encouraging.
As Donald miller would put it, ”The book of Job is a book about suffering, and it reads as though God is saying to the world, ‘Before we get started, there’s this one thing I have to tell you. Things are going to get bad.” And then he continues on by saying, ”Job is a good man who God allows to be destroyed, except for his life. God allows Job’s family to be taken, along with his wealth and his health. Job calls out to God, asking why God would let this happen.” Just like we all do when we find ourselves in a hard circumstance. However, what’s intriguing to me is that God does not answer Job’s question with the answer you would expect. Instead, God appears to Job in a whirlwind and asks if he knows who stops the waves on the shore and who manages the constellations that reel through the night sky.
I find that so overwhelmingly comforting because it’s simple, yet so powerful. When all else is going wrong, when you’re starting to turn back into the bratty little child again and you’re crying out to anyone to stop the mess. God reminds you who He is. That He is in control, always good, always sovereign, always loving, always near. That He knows what He is doing and it’s for your own good, and for the good of the Kingdom. That beautiful truth comforts my soul.
He continued to comfort me as I read through the book of Psalms who is written by David. I used to see David as just straight up dramatic and bipolar, and I still do, but the difference is that I understand why now. David was a man after God’s own heart. He fought hard for the Lord and the Lord fought hard for him, just how the Lord fights for all of us daily (Ezekiel:34:11-16). David cried out to God in his darkest places, questioned him, but still thanked him immensely through the mess and after. David was a mess because the closer we get to looking like Christ, the more he got attacked by the enemy.
The Christian life is a battle. We’re constantly fighting between our flesh and our spirit, but I love how the more I soak myself in the Word of God the more I find the battle easier and rewarding. Because when darkness begins to be more evident, I’m able to fight back with Truth.
In the Bible it says, ‘The truth will set you free.’ The catch is this, the truth will set you free but only the truth that you know.
Choose truth, choose the path of light, choose the path that gives us hope and life. Gives us eternity. Be children of God who praise His Name no matter what our circumstance, no matter what trial He throws our way. Never forget who’s fighting for you, and along side of you.
I strongly believe that the more difficult events that happen in our life, the stronger faith it produces. Which means coming to know our Lord more intimately. And if that’s the case, I want my world to be turned completely upside down.
It’s messy, it’s bumpy, it’s chaotic and sometimes you’ll find yourself with a bucket of ice cream sobbing because you just don’t understand life. And that’s perfectly okay. But once you get past that breaking point, finally give it all to the Lord, allow him to work in your mess and fight through it with you, it’s a beautiful revelation.
Ezekiel:34:11-16 ”For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak…”
UPDATE: This is my final month of the race!! After being away from home for 9 months, I’m excited to announce I’ll be flying into Toronto on May 29th!! Please pray for a smooth transition and that it would be clear of what the Lord wants me to do next. Be in prayer for a spirit of contentment and thanksgiving as I say goodbye to this place that has captured my heart completely.
HUGE thank you for allowing me to experience such an incredible journey and being apart of it. To get to know so many new faces, deepen my relationship with our sweet Lord, and for the abundance of love you all have endlessly given me. It’s been such a gift and I am so thankful!! And feel free to leave any prayer requests in the comments below or email me.
Much love.
See you all soon.
