So I’ve been thinking, marveling, praying over what I wanted to say for my first post and this is what I got..
I am grateful for God’s graceful pressing. You’re probably thinking, how could she be thankful for such suffering!? That’s a good question. I guess overtime God has just open my eyes to it, and I’ve felt the burden to share it with you guys. Please bear my rampages, if I have any!
Let’s be honest, though it is a rhythm of life, no one wants their hearts pressed to the point of crushing. No one wants to feel the deep wounds of their past. In those times, we wonder if we have what it takes to survive it. It almost feels like death. I know some of you who are reading this know what I am talking about.
I have had those moments, especially in the first steps of my walk with Jesus. Man, did it hurt. I cried a lot.. mourning over people and relationships that had to end. They definitely weren’t picture perfect moments to say the least. It’s unexpected and really, there is no tangible way of planning for it.
But did you ever look at your story and think hey, it was essential?
Lately, I have been in a season of utter gratitude. I guess you could say I FINALLY am understanding Paul’s teaching of “in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) after four years of fervently seeking Jesus. Man, am I thankful for the Lord’s patience (lol).
When I look back at the minutes, hours, days, and years of hard pressing I see why it needed to happen. Being pressed to the point of breaking not only rids the bad but it brings all that is good to the surface. It preserves who we really are: righteous, honorable, and rich through the blood of Jesus.
And did you notice how I said pressed to the point of breaking but not crushed?
God does it gracefully! He doesn’t want us to be crushed so we can’t be restored. He is a good Father who only wants good things for His children. We are pressed for the purpose of making us new and valuable. When we are renewed, we finally see the wounds of our pasts healed, and portray what God has seen from the beginning… pure gold.
I think this is where we see how beautiful His grace is. I think this is where we see God’s hand wonderfully displayed, and unmistakable.
We come out of the other side stronger and whole in Jesus… something we wouldn’t have been able to say before.
So where am I going with this?
When I look back at God’s graceful pressing in my life, I can see that it wasn’t for me whatsoever, but for the next dying soul who desperately needs to hear the healing of Jesus. This empowers me to go and that is why I applied to the World Race.. for the opportunity to show my scars and plant the seeds God gave me in hopes that it lays in rich soil for the Kingdom to come. And with every step through this journey, I have had peace: through applying, interviewing, and now fundraising. With fervent prayer and fasting, I know God has blessed my next season.
And so I ask, will you be a part of my journey?
If this means donating, THANK YOU. If this means connecting with me, I love it!
But truly I hope you say yes for the sake of being our prayer warriors. My team and I need all of the prayers you can give us. We are stepping into a season of unpredictability with the world being shaken from the COVID-19. We don’t know what lies ahead in each country, but with audacious prayers, we can stake our confidence on the authority and character of Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, I hope my blog gave you a flashback of your past… not to bring hard feelings to the surface, but to help you see what Jesus brought you through. Though it came with a fight, the strength of Abba brought you to the other side, for a purpose and a plan…. and with a great testimony! Think about how much our dying world needs to hear about how God gracefully pressed you. There is a purpose behind it, to plant seeds for His Kingdom and to give Him all the glory!
“For we are afflicted in every way, but no crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but no destroyed, always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”
2 Corintheans 4:8-10
