Photo Credit: Rachel Durik
"God is not impassive toward us, like an unresponsive pagan idol; he calls us to grow into a life of personal interchange with him that does justice to the idea of our being his children."
-Dallas Willard, Hearing God, p. 139
One of the most profound things I've taken away from this trip to Zambia is the sense of God's great interest in and love for me. He orchestrates our lives to revolve around relational interaction with Him, with one another. God doesn't need me, but I'm created to know Him intimately, to know Him here and now, in every raw moment of my life. I'm made to know Him, to share Him, to live in community with the Trinity, with my neighbors.
Our team faced some very intense circumstances and events in our time together. Events too great, too precious to share here. I've noticed that when we've spoken of them since, our loved ones are astounded, assuming we would have been terrified.
But in those moments of most intense battle, I wasn't afraid. I was bold, equipped, aware, secure. I saw this in my team as well. In those moments God allowed us to do His work with Him, invited us to get our hands dirty and get right in the middle of what He was doing. We weren't afraid, we weren't worried we'd do the wrong thing. We were with our Father and we had everything we needed, nothing to fear. He didn't need our help but He wanted us there, He wanted us to not just see what He was doing, but to have a real part in it. And that thrilled us to the core.
God wired us for relationship with Him, with one another, and we're designed for interaction in His work, in His world. We don't change when we watch from the sidelines. It's in intimate moments, messy and real and in the midst of our everyday lives that we're transformed, never the same.
I was left with the deepest sense of peace that I am loved, I am expertly cared for, that I really am His daughter. I know this is no mission trip high, because since returning to my regular life this sense of Him not only abides, but increases.
I'm provided with everything I need, with the very Word and presence of God alive within me. I'm secure, I'm safe; no real harm can come to me, not when my Father is there.
And He is ever-present.
...............................................................................................................................................
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39 NIV.)
One of the most profound things I've taken away from this trip to Zambia is the sense of God's great interest in and love for me. He orchestrates our lives to revolve around relational interaction with Him, with one another. God doesn't need me, but I'm created to know Him intimately, to know Him here and now, in every raw moment of my life. I'm made to know Him, to share Him, to live in community with the Trinity, with my neighbors.
Our team faced some very intense circumstances and events in our time together. Events too great, too precious to share here. I've noticed that when we've spoken of them since, our loved ones are astounded, assuming we would have been terrified.
But in those moments of most intense battle, I wasn't afraid. I was bold, equipped, aware, secure. I saw this in my team as well. In those moments God allowed us to do His work with Him, invited us to get our hands dirty and get right in the middle of what He was doing. We weren't afraid, we weren't worried we'd do the wrong thing. We were with our Father and we had everything we needed, nothing to fear. He didn't need our help but He wanted us there, He wanted us to not just see what He was doing, but to have a real part in it. And that thrilled us to the core.
God wired us for relationship with Him, with one another, and we're designed for interaction in His work, in His world. We don't change when we watch from the sidelines. It's in intimate moments, messy and real and in the midst of our everyday lives that we're transformed, never the same.
I was left with the deepest sense of peace that I am loved, I am expertly cared for, that I really am His daughter. I know this is no mission trip high, because since returning to my regular life this sense of Him not only abides, but increases.
I'm provided with everything I need, with the very Word and presence of God alive within me. I'm secure, I'm safe; no real harm can come to me, not when my Father is there.
And He is ever-present.
...............................................................................................................................................
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39 NIV.)
2 comments:
Beautiful, Megan. Thanks for sharing your heart and your trip with us.
I'm with Danielle 100%. so great. so thankful to Him for his goodness, the ways in which he teaches us, grows us, uses us for his glory!
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