There is something about meeting Jesus in the midst of your hurt and confusion that makes His presence so much more clear.
Picture this… It’s less than 12 hours from when you expected to be leaving for Nicaragua & the Lord throws a wrench in your plan. Due to some COVID-related reasons, we are unable to leave the country without further quarantine. Although this was very much a possibility, it was not what any of us had expected.
One of my squad mates, Asa, sat down with a few of us and read from Psalm 31 and just shared it as encouragement to each one of us. Verse 12 said “I am forgotten as though I were dead: I have become like broken pottery.” & It just hit me because that is exactly how I was feeling in that moment. Defeated & forgotten by the Lord because for what felt like the millionth time, things weren’t going to plan.
Throwing a wrench in our plans is something that He seems to be doing over and over again lately. Leaving us to grieve, hurt, and question; yet he meets us in that hurt. He sees us where we are and He chooses to come there and remind us of His faithfulness. The next morning, our leaders turned on a worship playlist and we all went into time with the Lord together.
As we worshiped, I felt the Lord telling me to give Him my hurt and let Him do something beautiful with it. I read in a book a while back book recently that spoke about pottery and the way potters use pieces from broken pots in new creations. By using broken pieces, it makes them stronger and more sturdy. I began praying that the Lord would take the broken pieces of my expectations and work them together to make me stronger, just as He has done over and over again.
It was there on the floor of the training center, where we have been sleeping, eating, worshiping, learning, and spending every minute of time in, I met Jesus. He met me right in my hurt and I was reminded of His faithfulness through all of time.
I worshipped and declared to the Lord that even though things don’t look as I expected and plans change that He is enough for me. My mission field is not Nicaragua and now I get a few days to rest in a new place. We get time to grow together as a team, explore the Lord’s creation, and even get to choose abandonment while we live lavishly in a new home in Cleveland Georgia.
He is faithful and good, not because of anything He has done but simply because that is His character and He stays true to His character. I am choosing to rejoice in His peace and find joy in the hard times.
Please be praying for our squad as we work through this unexpected event and the Lord’s plan reveals through time.
YES! He meets us right where we are, how faithful is that. SO GOOD??
hey Ella I will be praying for you !! I know this can’t be easy but the Lord is soso good and His will for our lives no matter the predictability is always AWESOME.
WOW! Thankful for your constant love and support in all of this my sweet friend. YES, the Lord is so good no matter the predictability that comes with.
YES! Love doing life with you 🙂
so good friend
love you friend
You are an amazing and beautiful young woman! God bless you and protect you on your new journey!!??????
Awesome!!!!!!!
Thank you! Miss and love you 🙂
Thank you so much!!
Praying, for and the group, daily.
Praying, daily, for you, and the rest of the group. God has a reason, for all that happens.
Thank you 🙂
Things have been unpredictable this past year, yet God has known what would happen. This whole year I have found myself at the same verse… James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Consider it Pure Joy.
That is no easy task! But you can do it!!
You make me proud baby girl. I love to see you Trusting and finding the Lord in all you do! I’m praying every day for you, your squad, the families and all the leaders at AIM! I love you more!
proud of you ! love u !
Wow! What a great read! We especially loved your statement: “He is faithful and good, not because of anything He has done but simply because that is His character and He stays true to His character.” That is so profound and seeing you “choose” to rejoice is such a great example!!! Keep it up!!! We are continuing to pray for you and each of your squad a d leaders!!!
Thank you so much. This is really really appreciated 🙂
You’re awesome Sam, thankful for your leadership.
LOVE YOU!!! Yes so good. Becoming more moldable to His works everyday.
Love you Mommy!!!!! Miss you thank you for everything
Thank you so much! Hope you’re doing well 🙂
Love you my friend!
Thank you guys for the prayers. See you guys so soon! Can’t wait to do life with you & learn from you both.
I want to ping off what Sam said about James 1:2-3 – CONSIDER it pure joy! That word consider makes it OUR CHOICE! Certainly, trials – challenges, difficulties, uncertainties – are NOT pure joy in and of themselves. Quite the opposite quite frankly. But James tells us to consider them joy… why? For outcome they will produce in the Potter’s hand! We know trials are not joyful, but we can be joyful in the trials because we know God is working good things in us through them. We lean in a little harder. We snuggle up to Him a little closer. We grow stronger for what lies ahead – for His glory! Love you and praying for you!
Praying for God’s protection over you and your team Ella???? He has the master plan??