My God is Faithful

Words cannot even begin to explain my journey over these last couple of months. God’s provision and guidance for me over the last couple of weeks alone has been so evident.

As I sit here in my new room in Australia, the feeling of excitement, joy and satisfaction begin to overwhelm me. I am truly blessed to have this opportunity, and am so thankful for everything that God has been pouring into my life and for the people He is sending my way.

“I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” (Ps. 16:8)

Although this past month has taken me through probably some of the most difficult trials I have ever been through, I can still stand in the complete and total truth that 

God is good, and He will always be.

In March of 2010 I was able to take part in a missions trip here, at the YWAM base in Newcastle. And it was then that I knew that someday, whether in the near or far future, I would do a DTS here.

As months went on, I kept on coming up with excuses for me to delay my decision to go to YWAM. Either “money was too tight” or “I need to settle things in my own life before I can go on a trip like that” (and now that I look back on it I see how incredibly ridiculous the excuses were).

It was, without a doubt, the devil that was putting these lies in my head because he knew that if I was to take part in a school like this, that it would bring nothing but glory to God. And after a few long talks with some fellow believers of mine and a whole lot of prayer, I finally committed to do a Compassion DTS starting on October 4, 2011.

The day I decided to come to Australia to take part in YWAM marked the first day of a whole new chapter in my life. Growing up in the church, we would always sing songs that say "Where you go I'll go" or "What you say I'll say" or "God may your will be done in my life," but to actually take the first step in following the commands that God sets before you and to actually follow where He leads you and to essentially give EVERYTHING you have to Him in order to obey him takes more strength than I would've ever imagined.

I just got to the point where I was so comfortable with my relationship with God and I really wanted change. I want to be stretched. I want to be forced out of my comfort zone. I want to dwell in the presence of the Lord every moment of my day.

I want God to refashion my life to be more holy.

In the beginning of September, my best friends dad got diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer and was given only 6 months to live. Everything in my life seemed to just stand still for a moment. My best friend, my crazy, passionate, loving, comforting, warm-hearted best friend was faced with one of the hardest things you have to deal with on this earth. The reality hit me like a wall. 

My friend was also planning to do a DTS with YWAM, but hers would be stationed in Europe. So she was forced to make the decision to either stay and be with her father, or to continue on and follow the dream and calling to be a YWAM student.

Her strength and courage was phenomenal, unbelievable. To watch her as she sought guidance and counsel from the Lord and to place all of her trust in Him and to follow what He had called her to do, no matter what the circumstance was really encouraging. Not only to me, but to all around her. To her father, her mother, her family, friends and church.

I believe with all of my heart that God is so much bigger than his cancer, and that He is so able to heal her father. And most of all, God wants to touch her father's heart and wants nothing more than for him to fall completely head-over-heels in love with him!

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."(1 Peter 5:10)

I believe that God has a plan for my friends dad. A plan bigger and greater than I could ever imagine. So I ask if you could join me and my church family in prayer for healing and restoration for her father.

I stand in complete reverence to the Lord. I know that His plan is greater than any plan that I would ever have for my own life. I know that He is faithful and He will never leave or forsake me. I know that He is good and He is worthy. So I want nothing more than to praise Him will every cell in my body. With every breath that I take, I want to glorify him.

"My hearts aches for you my God

My soul waits for you my God

I’ve come far to find you here

In this place will I draw near

And your spirit soars me

To the highest heights

From where I’ll not look back

I’ll keep trusting you

For I know

You are faithful

My God

From the land of the barren
We will cry out for rain
Fill our hearts God
I’ll keep trusting you

Your spirit inside me holds me close
In your wonderful presence I let go
I cleanse my hands, You burn my heart
I cry out for love, You set me apart"