I wasn't going to write this post, but for the sake of transparency and accountability I wanted to share what God has been teaching me.
This past week I became overwhelmed with anxiety about my future.
I absolutely love where I am right now. I love my city. I love my church and my job. I love every one of my crazy students. I love my roommates. But in August I'll be leaving all of this to pursue my Master's Degree at seminary.
Part of me is so excited to be part of a community where everyone is being equipped and taught to live out ministry! I know that every day I do this student ministry thing I become more aware of how much I don't know. I understand that I'll never have all the answers, but I am excited to have a deeper understanding of the Bible! I know this is something God has truly placed on my heart, even before I made the commitment to pursue full time ministry.
And part of me is terrified
that I won't make new friends
that I won't excel in my classes
that my current relationships will suffer
Of course it won't be easy,
but I began to allow these fears to root deep down into my heart
and they convinced me that they were bigger and more powerful than the one I'm serving.
And then God spoke to me.
I don't know how God speaks to you,
but He likes to speak to me through the Bible
and this time His message was quite clear.
This particular day I had gone over to Panera Bread to eat lunch and work on our youth Bible study. I pulled out the workbook to read over the study and just sat staring at the title for a few moments.
"Faith to Go into the Unknown"
And then I proceeded to read about Moses, in Exodus 13 and 14
when He had led the Israelites out of Egypt right to the bank of the Red Sea.
Moses didn't know where he was going. He and the people literally followed where God led them, in the form of a cloud or a pillar of fire.
They found themselves being pursued by the Egyptian army, on the edge of the Red Sea, with nowhere to turn. The people lost all hope, believing they were about to die!
After HUGE and mighty acts that God had shown them
blood, frogs, gnats, flies, epidemic disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness
and the death of the firstborns
God appearing in the form of cloud and fire
the people doubted His power.
I sat reading this passage at my booth and was so completely convicted of my lack of faith. I have seen God work in such evident and miraculous ways in my life. He has shown me insurmountable grace and opened doors that I never thought were possible.
How could I forget everything that He has done now?
And yet, God speaks encouragement through Moses to his people
We have such a patient and loving God
and these words pierced my heart
"Do not be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."
Exodus 14:13-14 NLT
God showed His power by giving the Israelites a way out- He split the sea in two and all the people walked through on dry ground!
My situation is a lot less life-threatening and dire
but the heart of the matter is the same
I can have faith to go into the unknown because my God will be glorified
the Lord himself will fight for me!
and sipping on a caramel ice blended coffee,
the Lord did fight those fears and lies
And as I confessed my anxieties to the Lord,
He fulfilled another promise, from Philippians 4:6-7
to guard my heart with a peace that passes understanding.
Friends, today I hope that you are encouraged to have faith to go into the unknown
whatever that may be in your life.
God is in control
and He will fight for you!
Linkin up with Kerrie at The Williams Post today!
