Meet like-minded friends who love Jesus: It was so encouraging to connect with my family group and meet other friends who have a deep relationship with Jesus and hear their testimonies of how God loves them and leads them.
Trusting in the Lord
Our spiritual journey sometimes requires learning old lessons over and over again. "I was so sure I had that one down!" we think, when old struggles resurface out of nowhere. Some time before the Friday testimonies, I was anxious about God's timing and His will for my future. His timing seemed to be never and His will for my future was not revealed in exact details despite years of waiting and prayer, except what I needed to do in ministry right now for God. We know God is sovereign and we know He will guide us, but for how long do we wait after years of waiting? Why are things in the opposite direction of our own personal plans? Are we expected to trust even though it will require self-denial and sacrifice?
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on thine own understanding, and in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" I was repeating this over and over, but that day, my heart could not fully trust. However, hearing all the testimonies of God's love and guidance was such a big encouragement. It was some kind of a break though, that by the time the testimonies time was over, the peace of God thrilled so much inside me, that I couldn't stop smiling. Now the same verse "Trust in the Lord..." was real and I could shout it with enthusiasm (in my mind hehe) because He had given me the grace to trust Him; I could not do it alone.
In other words, He does not always answer prayers our way or reveal everything we want, but one thing is promised: His peace.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6-7
And wow, that peace is beyond understanding!
