God is in control. Why it always takes so long for me to fully realize this, I’m not sure. This weekend I’ve been receiving answers to some questions I’ve been asking for a while now and some peace over the discouragement I’ve been struggling against.

Once again, Bill Johnson spoke an awesome sermon that impacted me in several ways. I think he must have been reading my mind, because he spoke about the struggles that we will inevitable experience when we choose to give our lives to God. He emphasized that we will be ridiculed and we will be laughed at. My coworker will not be the first. He also reminded me of a great quote spoken from a great president, Teddy Roosevelt,

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat”

I feel like I may as well tack that onto the end of my last post :p 

Also, as I’ve pursued God’s plan for me in this semester, I have been praying about several choices involving little things like trying out for the spring musical  to bigger plans such as where to go on mission over spring break. In my first post I talked about how I couldn’t hear God’s answers to these questions and wasn’t sure what to do. I understand now.

I didn’t feel a peace about the trip to Jamaica in April because that’s not what God had in mind. Now an opportunity has opened  for Erik and I to go to the Dominican Republic for the week, instead. On top of that, my director agreed to excuse me from a 12 hour play rehearsal that day, and I may even be able to fly back for that. I will still be able to go to Jamaica in the summer thanks to Tracy keeping our original May 29th date. 🙂 God is in control.

I was glad to see Mark and Kennon back from Kenya this morning. Mark gave the impression that God is doing some awesome work over there, which I can’t wait to hear more about and see for myself this summer.

As for the little things that hold me captive, God is in control of those too. As Francis Chan puts it, “in the context of God’s strength, our problems are small indeed”. And indeed they are. And as Bill ended his sermon this morning, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” -Matthew 28:20. Indeed He is.

“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” -Isaiah 40:31 

God, You never cease to amaze me. Thank You for being in control. Thank You for the plans You have set before me, in this week, and in this lifetime. Please renew my strength every day to serve You and live for You. Continue to move in my heart, in this community, in this nation, and across the earth. Use me as You will.

Amen.