Hi friends, I was hoping to post this sooner but here we go! So, this past August I felt the call to go on another mission trip. I was kinda unsure because I had just finished med assist school this past spring and was beyond ready to get started working at the hospital and get my career/more schooling moving along. Nevertheless, I continued in prayer about it, and I remembered how Adventures in Missions (where I previously did missions) has shorter-term trips rather than months at a time. I saw there’s a trip option called Beauty for Ashes, so as I continued to pray and research about the different trip options, the phrase ‘beauty for ashes’ kept coming up through podcasts, worship music, and friends. It showed up everywhere!! (Beauty for Ashes mission, is for women in Southeast Asia in trafficking, which is where my heart is for missions and why I wanted to start missions!)
So, a long story short, I applied and found out pretty quickly I got accepted for the trip. About a week after announcing I was going on this trip, I was already halfway funded, and now fully funded! Through this process, it has been so clear how God’s hand is upon it, and it has been such a cool story to share with others! Okay so don’t get me wrong, there have been joyful things in this, but there have also been many different anxieties. Feelings such as unqualified, not capable, or just simply nervous. A phrase I have been thinking about a lot is ‘Lord willing’ or ‘if it’s the Lord’s will it will be done’. This has made me question, “am I okay with letting go of my plans, or thinking I know what is best?”. Not just with this trip, but in all things in my life. I have often joked about how anytime my life is going in a straight line, the Lord has often made me do a 90-degree turn. But His plan is always so so good.
I often reflect upon this verse “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” – Psalm 139:16
Beginning part of this verse is showing how David could not see, yet God can see perfectly. This is such a beautiful demonstration of His immaculate knowledge and care. Not only does that care pertain to the past and present, but also the future! Therefore, as I often look at different places in my life where I could not see what was happening but can now see how God was through it through it all. This can be such a difficult thing to learn and adapt into our lives but provides such placidity! (More verses about God’s plan are below:)
God cares about us so much and wants to care for us if we allow Him. So, is there something you’re trying to control, not content with, or can’t let go of? What can you let go of at Jesus’ feet and leave there in taking the comfort of knowing that He knows your heart and wants what is best for you?
- “To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory.” Isaiah 61:3
- “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” – Luke 12:7
- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
- “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts”, says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could ever imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9
