But, God has told me: "Rejoice in not knowing."
I was invited to help lead a camp called Niko. Niko is an outdoor survival camp where the campers are taken to the limit- physically, emotionally and spiritually. They are led to the breaking point where their only option is complete dependence on God.
One of the activities in which God really spoke to me was a hike where the campers need to follow a set of instructions with coordinates and clues to find ribbons. My campers got lost for 5 hours because they failed to correctly follow the instructions. We walked for 5 hours in a square kilometer. Needless to say we were exhausted by the end of the 12+ hour hike and I ended up having to show them where the ribbon was to continue on to the next clue. The campers arrived to a point of exhaustion, frustration, desperation, etc..
During this hike and after Niko, God spoke to me a lot about what it looks like to follow His instructions step by step even if you don't know exactly where He is leading you. For me I could definitely identify myself with the campers- wanting to know the destination, and in the process getting completely tired and exhausted. So often God gives us an instruction on what we are to do, but we don't see the full picture, the final destination and we start walking towards the destination, but in the meantime we become tired, exhausted and frustrated for not seeing the promise, the destination.
God spoke to me very strongly through the verse:
"I am God. At the right time I'll make it happen." Isaiah 60:23
He calls us to rejoice in not knowing
If I become frustrated or tired on the way, I'm not fully resting in God, nor trusting Him.
During Niko I was responsible to lead 7 campers. Each camper was touched by God in amazing ways. Just a quick summary...
-One girl was completely healed when she twisted her ankle within 10 minutes of praying for her.The majority of the campers were from orphanages or broken families. The focus of this Niko was restoration, identity and showing the father heart of God. There were amazing times of ministering to the kids' hearts, forgiveness, etc..
-One boy who has been going to anger management for 3+ years had an encounter with God and God showed him the root of his anger. He is currently restoring his relationship with his parents.
-Another girl learned what it means to speak up when God gives her a word without fear.
-A boy who had been searching for his identity for the past 4 months got his answer from God on who he is.
-Another boy learned to rejoice and praise God in the difficulties of life. He taught us that the only correct reaction to seeing Jesus' sacrifice is to praise and worship.
-A girl learned that in order to lead others, she needs to be humble and ask for help.
-Another boy learned about his need to fully depend on God in every circumstance.
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| Campers + Staff |
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| Niko Staff |
"Your life of faith is a response to God's power." 1 Corinthians 2:5 (Message)
Faith is a response to who God is, to His power. My life should not reflect my power nor my strength; it should reflect my weakness so that God is in the spotlight. I can be completely honest with you in saying that these past couple of months I have felt entirely weak and unable to do anything in my own strength; this weakness has impulsed me to rest in His goodness.
Sometimes we go through different seasons in life where we see more of what God is doing in us rather than through us. In the desert God is often working on our roots, rather than through us. These past couple of months have definitely been a desert for me, but I believe we all need those desert times in order to truly thirst for God and His power.
Thank you for joining me on this journey of what God is doing in and through me. I am constantly humbled to see how He provides, encourages and loves me through people like you. Thank you.
