In life, sometimes we hit seasons that are uncomfortable and challenging. Circumstances with family, life, work, health, finances, and so many other things burden us down. It is so easy to become focused on the thing right in front of us. At times, you just want to throw your hands up and give up; because you see where you are trying to go and are nowhere close to your goals or the dreams in your heart. However, one cannot let circumstances determine the direction of their life. Instead of focusing on the problem and getting so overwhelmed by the environment around us, we have to rise to the occasion and change it. It can seem tiring, because it is daily a battle to choose to not focus on the negative. It’s a faith walk, but you just have to get to a point of complete trust in the Lord. Many times, instead of casting our cares, burdens, and fears on the Lord we strive to figure everything out on our own. This just leads to unrest, getting burnt out, and leaves you wanting to give up. However, the key is to learn to trust and rest in God. When Jesus is there the whole picture changes.

In John 21 we see this very thing. The disciples were out fishing. They had just been through a season of seeing the mighty miracles and works of Jesus. They did life, walking, and learning from Him when He was on earth. Then the unexpected happened and he was crucified, handed over by the religious leaders and people. This was not what the disciples were expecting. They had seen the goodness and love of t Then he resurrected and appeared to his disciples two other times previous to this account. I think the disciples were so perplexed, but the things they experienced and what had happened they didn’t know what to do next. They returned to where they were before Jesus called them back to the profession of fishing. It was going terrible. They were not catching any fish. “They went out and got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing” (John 21:3). Next thing at dawn Jesus rolls up onto the scene. He tells the disciples to throw out their nets again on the right side of the boat. They do and gather a whole net full of fish! “They were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish” (John 21:6). Peter exclaims, “It’s the Lord!” He throws himself in the sea and swims to the shore. They go and have dinner with Jesus on the seashore. Jesus coming on the scene changed everything. The disciples were at a moment of confusion and loss at what to do next after the season of life they had experienced. Peter felt the worst I’m sure. He denied the Lord three times after seeing the miracles of God. He felt so ashamed. That morning on the shore though the Lord confirmed His love for Peter and that the call on His life was still the same. Three times He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” and each time Peter said Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Take care of my Sheep!” The calling of God still was on Peter’s life even though He felt like He had messed up, failed, and denied God after all the signs and miracles and love He had seen. In Matthew 16 we can remember the promise and call on Peter’s life. Jesus asked Peter, “who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus goes on to say to Him, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My community; and the gates of Sheol will not overpower it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will have been forbidden in heaven and what you permit on earth will have been permitted in heaven. Then He ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.” (Matthew 16:13-17). The promises of God on Peter’s life never changed, because it’s not in the nature of God. He went on with the rest of the disciples to shake the world radically for Jesus. We are the results of them proclaiming the message of God and laying their lives on the line.

The same goes in our own lives. We are meant to shake the nations. “Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance and the ends of the earth your possession” (Psalm 2:8). We just need to stand in faith on the promises of God and focus on Him not the winds and waves around us. Like Peter we just not to look at the face of Jesus and the storms around us we will walk over and overcome through Jesus. However, even when we get distracted or trip up the Lord is there to pick us right back up. He is rich in mercy and full of love.

Many of you know I came back from serving in Africa three months this summer. I saw God do crazy awesome things! People were healed of sickness and pain. We brought the message of the gospel and Jesus which brought freedom, hope, restoration to families, and a message of love and value. I felt the presence of God so strong and was surrounded by a community of people who loved the Lord. We could encourage and love on each other. I felt and heard from God like I have not really in any other time in my life. I felt so much freedom and joy. I joined staff with the organization and was sent home to work on fundraising to go live in Africa and do missions work. I was excited; because like that’s my dream to love on and help people, preach the gospel, and do life in another country.

I came home though and my life seemed totally different. I went back to work; because loan payments for school were due. I just graduated college with a bachelor’s in government. Family life went crazy for reasons I won’t go into detail on. I had bills and things I needed to pay like asap. I was in a new place again in which I knew no one. I didn’t really have a Christian community or church. I felt a lone many times. I was struggling with balancing being real and speaking faith over circumstances. I just kept letting things pile and pile up while trying to give them to the Lord and fundraise. It just was not working. I hit a breaking point, because I felt like I was failing in every area of my life and not making a difference. I felt stuck and overwhelmed which led to not so hot moments. Religion was burning me out even more; because I felt judged and misunderstood Anyway, I was tired. One day I was like crying driving to a coffee shop in my car to try to have some quiet time and re-focus my thoughts when I had this thought. Why would I give up so easily number one? Number two maybe I was brought to the place I’m at to change the environment around me. I can either let the circumstances and cares of life choke out the things I’ve learned over the years and kill my faith or I could rise up not shrink back and take hold of the promises of God. This is the point I’m at; because I am fed up. God has called me to the nations and God has called me to be a change wherever I am at. He’s called me to be in the states for a season and to pioneer here as well as when I go back to Africa. It’s the same for everyone reading this. It is a process to get to where we are going. In the meantime, we need to be changing the places we are at now and not accepting things for the way they are for we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who have faith and believe. We have to speak the word of God and remember the promises. I know I am a hot mess with flaws not the typical looks like she has it all together Christian girl, but the Lord still uses me. His love and faithfulness is beyond our imperfections. He is the strength in our weakness and makes us pure and holy through Him. Did we deserve it no, but it isn’t based on works or our good deeds? It is based on His nature. He died on the cross to bring hope and healing and freedom to people who were a broken mess. God is the only thing that has kept my life together and led me to some of the most amazing places and people not because he needs me but he loves me and chose me to be apart of seeing His glory and goodness poured out on the ends of the earth. We can either grab hold of His promises and walk out our faith like we believe it or shrink back and let stupid circumstances dictate our lives.

This is where I am at. Honestly, I have been fundraising to get back to Africa and still have a ways to go; but I trust God. I trust His timing and process. I may not be where I need to be yet, but I know I’m growing and learning in this season. It’s a season of learning to trust. That is where I am at now. I am choosing to stand on God’s promises and not the circumstances. I am just being real and raw with you guys. It’s a season of trust over fear or giving up. Here are some verses that have encouraged me that I just want to share with you all. I know God has beautiful plans for your lives. We all hit challenging times, but we just need to learn to rest in the promises of God and speak them even in desert seasons even at times we feel like we are failing. God will provide and make a way.

 

“Behold, I am doing something new; now it springs forth, do you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” Isaiah 43:19

“Trust in Adonai with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“The Lord is my strength and my (impenetrable) shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him!” Psalm 28:7

Psalm 23

“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the [sunless] [a]valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with [b]oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.” “Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 “Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance and the ends of the earth your possession” Psalm 2:8 “We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls” Hebrews 10:39