A while back during Samaritan’s Purse we went to a house to clear out the brush, and tear some drywall out. We met an elderly man named Grover, and he repeated the same words over and over again. The words that he said were “I’ve seen and done a wholleeee lot and I aint complainin’ about nothin. The Lord has been goooddd to me.” These words have stuck with my team and we always remind each other the words of Grover. They really are so simple, but so powerful at the same time. This week all I can say is the Lord has been so good to me. The Lord is just so so good and I can’t get enough of him.
At the end of last week I was struggling a bit and just wrestling the Lord with a lot of questions. It was probably the hardest time yet being on the race. I was just asking the Lord all these why questions. A lot just weighed heavy on my heart and I was so confused on what the Lord wanted me to step into. After a lot of seeking out the truth and seeking out counsel and just spending time with the Lord I have found peace. Peace is something of the Lord, and not fear. At the end of last week I was in constant fear of not finding out the truth or the answers, fear of having different opinions than others, and the fear of being alone. When I realized I’m living and worrying about all these things, I realized I’m not living in the Lord. I’m not resting in Him and who He says he is.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 states, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
That verse is just such a comforting verse to rest in and find peace in. God promises that he will be with us through the highs and the lows. When I was at my low He was with me the whole time and even though I couldn’t feel His presence in the moment, He has been so faithful to show up in so many different ways this past week. He has brought me out of my lowest of lows and has given me joy in the smallest things.
WAYS THE LORD HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME THIS WEEK:
- I feel like the Lord has been calling me to really spend more alone time with Him. The Lord has given me so much rest this week and I’ve woken up early to have quiet time with Him in the mornings. I read my devo, my Bible, and then take a walk and listen to worship music and talk to Him. It has just made these past few days ten times better and I can’t help, but smile because I get to spend everyday with him. NOT I have to, but I GET to.
- My team and another team drive together to ministry everyday. We start the morning with prayer for the day and then blast worship music. I get the privilege to be apart of this every day. WOW. Thanks God!
- South Africa has the most beautiful sunsets and with all the open land we are staying on we get to see it every night. I believe that sunsets are such a gift from God and He is just the most creative with them.
- I get to start my week off with two Bible classes, with the people I love so much right alongside of me. Learning more and more every time about the Bible and how to walk a Godly life according to the word. HOW COOL!
- I get the privilege to work in a garden alongside my teammates seeing the fruit of our labor and enjoying the simplicity of it. Our favorite thing is to play worship music on the speaker in the garden, while talking to each other, and while pulling weeds(our favorite thing).
- Every Wednesday we have worship as a squad after dinner. This week my dear friend, Morgan, lead it. They passed out flowers to each of us with a paper that had a name on it(someone from the squad). She asked us to pray for that person and ask the Lord for a word of encouragement to say to them. It was such a beautiful picture of community and the way the Lord wants us to love one another.
- I get to have intentional conversations with the workers from Timion as I get to work alongside them and learn what they are passionate about. Timion’s main focus is serving the Lord and worshipping Him in everything that they do. It has been such an honor to learn from them and get a new perspective on things.
To sum this all up the Lord has been so so good to me and I haven’t given Him enough credit for the joys I get to have daily. From here on out I want start thanking the Lord for the things He has given me. It can just be the smallest thing like a teammate giving me a hug, or the sunset at the end of a hard day. James 1:2 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” I count it a joy that I have gone through trials because it has made me depend on the Lord more. This past week has made me so strong and I am so blessed to have the Lord right beside me through every high and every low.
-grace:)
Mr Grover has taught the power in our words. Power to bring life or death. Our hands and feet have the power to do work for the Lord. Our hearts the power to encourage, our minds the power of wisdom. Add the power of the Holy Spirit and the Kingdom grows under any conditions. You have such power to share.
ugh i just love you so much gracie! proud of your growth that is so evidently from the Father! its an honor to walk through this season with you!
Love that reminder! “ The Lord has been good to me”
He is so so good ??
Loved reading this update.
Keep pressing into him.
Oops! That should’ve not been ?? above. They were supposed to be exclamation points! My fat fingers won again. Ha
Gracie, I love the way you are open and honest about your trials. That adds to the message of hope and healing that you have experienced from the Lord. It is good to take it all to Him in prayer because He always hears and knows what is going on with you. He loves YOU! and so do I.
I give praise to God alone for all that is happening in and through you Grace! You are exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit! I love you!