Mexico and The Wilderness

While I love the season of fall, I always have a twinge of sadness when it begins because it means that another summer has come and gone once again. I love summer and this summer was no exception!  One of the major highlights of the summer was being able to go back to Mexico again for a missions trip.  It was a trip that I won’t soon forget.  One of the best parts of it was getting to reconnect with a lot of the people and kids we met last year. It never ceases to amaze me how deeply friendship can transcend language and cultural barriers.  There are so many stories I could tell from our trip but I thought I would share one that personally affected me the most.

The first morning of the VBS we helped run, I was asked to help out with the youngest group of kids.  To be honest, I was disappointed.  I helped out with the same group last year and while I did have fun with them, I also found it difficult to connect with the kids.  So, this year I was hoping that I would be put with another age group.  But I was determined to see what happened.  Monday was a rough day and I couldn’t understand why God had placed me there again. I just felt like surely there were many other people who could love and connect with the kids better than I could.  Tuesday morning I remember saying to God that I couldn’t do it and if this was where he wanted me to be, He had to be my strength in my weakness because I couldn’t do it. As always, God showed Himself to be so strong.  Tuesday was such a fun day with the kids! Bubbles became a good friend that day!  The other day at work I heard a song called “I’m forever Blowing Bubbles” and I chuckled to myself thinking that it could have been my theme song for that week at VBS.  The kids loved them so we were blowing bubbles constantly throughout the week.  As odd as it may sound, God really used the bubbles as a chance for me to connect with some of the kids, two girls in particular. Fast forward to the last day of camp, while saying goodbye one of the girls told me that she wanted to bring her cell phone next year so she can get a picture of the two of us. I was close to tears because the goodness of God was so evident in that moment.  God began to show me through that moment that He will lead me through uncomfortable, unexpected and difficult seasons; and He will do that in all of his love and grace to show me that He really is so strong in my weakness. So often I try to shy away from the things that will stretch my faith but maybe those are moments I can experience God in deeper ways and what could be better?!

This truth has proved so important in my life since coming home.  I’m in a season when I don’t know exactly where I’m supposed to be as far as a career. I’m doing all these different things at work, at church, and other places, and I’ve been wondering if all of it is really leading somewhere and accomplishing anything. I am finding it really hard to rest in Jesus. Even in the midst of new opportunities, there are many days I struggle with doubt and feeling discouraged. There’s a verse in Hosea that came up in Mexico that I keep coming back to. Its Hosea 2:14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her” I think all of us can relate to those times of feeling like we keep on going in circles, not really going anywhere. The idea of being in the wilderness is not usually a pretty picture. It’s seems unending, barren, lonely and unsettled. Yet, it is in the midst of all of that, according to this passage, in which God speaks to us.   God doesn’t just speak normally but he speaks tenderly to us. Doesn’t that show His compassion and deep care for us? I imagine Him saying to us things like “don’t give up, don’t lose heart, I know it’s hard but I’m here, I’m in this with you.”   Why does God speak tenderly? Because he can sympathize with our weakness and He invites us to approach his throne of grace. (Hebrews 4:15-16) Why does He bring us out to the wilderness in the first place? Because when all that is around us seems dry and empty, we can see more clearly that He is the wellspring of life.  I love the idea of alluring as well. The definition of allure is to attract or tempt by something flattering or desirable. Even though the destination may not be desirable, the Person we can to meet with is fully desirable. This passage has been an immense encouragement to me and I hope it encourages you all too!

Thanks for reading!