Before this summer, whenever I was faced with hurt and hardships, my first instinct was always to blame God or ask Him "why are you doing this to me?" But through my time on Work Crew I learned how to praise God at all times.
Recently I've been dealing with a lot of pain. Coming home from Windy Gap was probably the hardest transition I've ever had to go through, and learning how to deal with real life after coming away from camp is a huge challenge. But God is using the transition to show me great and wonderful things every day.
This week/weekend I got to reunite with SO many of my very best friends, and my heart is so thankful for them and they ways they love me and love Jesus. I've gotten to hear about so many of their WC experiences, as well as reunite with my WC best friend!! My heart is so happy.
This week I have found so much refuge and comfort in my friends. It's pretty cool how God sent them all home from their summer adventures at the time when I could use them the most. :) What's funny is that when seeking their help and guidance, every single one of them has pointed me right back to God and His word. They've helped me see good in tough situations, and they've showed me what it means to love like Jesus does.
Loving like Jesus does is a hard thing to do. It's an unconditional love. It's a big love. Larger than life. It's a patient love. It's an active love. Today my friend Chandler told me that love is a verb- it's an action. It's something you have to actively pursue. These friends of mine love me unconditionally. They love me big-time. They are active with their love. They are patient with their love. And every day they are teaching me how to love more and more like Jesus does.
My friends have also shown me that there is always joy to be found. My best friend in the whole world (Ivy) who I met on Work Crew visited me this weekend, and I haven't felt this much joy since we were back at camp serving together! This weekend I saw that joy can be found in Sonic slushies and and late nights in bed watching Vines. It's in beautiful pink sunsets and floats down the Chattahoochee River. Joy is being with someone who understands what you're thinking without even being asked. It's something that is almost impossible to explain.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, God is GOOD. He always has been and He always will be. Even if at times it's hard to see through the pain, His plan is so much greater than your present sufferings. Keep trusting in Him.
xoxo,
Rachel
"We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus's sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." - 2 Corinthians 4:8-12
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9
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