Three Truths I Learned While In Georgia

Here are a few of the key truths I learned while in Gainesville: 

1. Each day is a surrender. 

One of the first sessions we had while on campus at AIM in September was about the cost it takes each of us to follow Christ. We are called to daily lay down our life, our desires, our fears, our passions, and take up the cross to follow Him (Luke 9:23). We must choose that no matter what happens today, Christ is worth it. He demands our full commitment. We cannot be all in one moment and on the fence a moment later. We cannot be lukewarm. We have to choose, is He worth all of me, my thoughts, my actions, my words, my dreams, my reactions, or do I want to follow my own way? He either has to be everything or nothing at all to us. He costs all of me, so is He worth it? 

Once we have made this crucial decision, to either follow ourselves or to lay down ourselves and follow Christ, we are required to step into action. We cannot look back (Luke 9:62). Our lives will actually look different. The things we look at, the things we think about, talk about, the way we react to the world will actually change. And in this, we actually get to know God (John 17:3). We get to walk in communion each day with Him. We get to surrender our days to Him, allowing Him to move in whatever way He will. We get to be disrupted by Him. We get to be overwhelmed by His perfect love. We get to fall at His feet in worship. We get to be used by Him in the lives of the people around us and see actual change in our communities. We get to be known and desired by Him. We are given a seat at the table and an irreversible place in His family. 

But this takes surrender, each day, choosing that He is worth it and choosing to stand on the truth of who He actually is and who He says we are. 

2. Humility is being willing to be the one to just plant the seed. 

Throughout our many sessions and speakers in Georgia, we learned often about evangelism and how to effectively share Christ with unbelievers. We heard about many stories through various speakers, as well as witnessed people accepting Christ through our time in Alabama. What a joy it is to gain another brother or sister in Christ! We get to celebrate in truth along with the angels in heaven as our Kingdom-family grows. These are such sweet and precious times that produce so much faith and boldness in speaking to whoever the Lord may have for us to share His love with.

However, not every person will accept Christ when we share with them. People often can be very closed to the Gospel and don’t want anything to do with it, or are not in a place where they see a need or desire for God in their lives right now. So the question then is, am I willing to just plant a seed, even if I am not going to see any of the fruit while on earth? Am I willing to be one of the in between times that this person has heard the Gospel, and not softened their heart toward it? Am I willing to follow Christ in word and deed, even if I never see any fruit in the lives around me? I’m learning that I must be willing to lay down my own agenda or desire for completion, and instead trust in the sovereign will of the Father and the fact that He will receive all glory in His timing. 

3. Uncertainty is just more space where I get to choose to trust the Lord.

Life is always changing, we’ve all seen this to a new level this year. More and more, I am realizing that nothing is up to me, even when I think I have a plan, it is constantly changing and requiring more flexibility out of me than I would have even thought possible before this year. But God is faithful in every circumstance. Every time something changes now, it just gives me another opportunity to trust in Him. He will take care of us if we let Him. As life continues to not go the way I had in mind, I am finding myself able to be more thankful for these uncertainties. I get to choose to see the Lord’s hand in it all, walking with me in the midst of whatever it is. 

I am so thankful for the ways He has disrupted my plans so far, especially in allowing us to go to Georgia for three months instead of straight to the field. He met me mightly there and knew exactly what each of us on Gap year needed. I got to grow closer in relationship with the Lord and seek Him in new ways that I had not experienced before without any other distractions. As a squad, we were able to intentionally build a community and grow in friendship together, choosing into one another and into the Lord. We learned from so many wise people and were trained thoroughly and given time to ask the hard questions and dig deep into the answers. I am so incredibly thankful for my time in Gainesville and for all the Lord did while I was there. And now, I get to revel in the blessings of the past months and look forward to all the Lord has for me and my squad and the people we’re about to meet as we travel soon! I am so thankful for the way the Lord works and interrupts even if I don’t see the point within the midst of it. 

I would encourage you to look for the ways your life has been disrupted in the past months, and ask the Lord what He had for you, in the midst of these changes none of us could have predicted. He’s there and working, even if you can’t quite see it right now. 

Thank you all for your support in this season. I am so blessed and humbled by the generosity and the encouragement that you have given to me. I love you all.

-Bethany