This morning I wrote a letter to my team and wanted to share it on my blog. We need prayers while we are preparing to go and so I thought I would share this letter so that the prayer needs could be shared with all of you. And I also wanted to share a testimony of God's faithfulness.
Hello Lovely Team!!I am sitting at a coffee shop after a meeting with one of my pastors and I felt that I should write you lovely girls. 🙂 I know there is a lot of anxiety going on and so I just wanted to encourage you and preach to myself a little bit because I have been a little bit anxious about everything as well.
We are heading into a mission field that is going to be a battle every day. And Satan's attacks have already started. I know you all "know" that but it is easy for me to take it lightly and not realize how serious the war really is. Satan is going to try and throw lies at us and whisper doubts into our ears. He wants us to feel defeated far before we actually get to Cambodia. We must be grounded in truth and constantly do the "abiding" thing. 🙂
The pastor that I just met with looked at me and asked, "So do you want to get married? If I were you, I would be nervous that that was not going to happen with the commitment of two years. How do you feel about that?" I actually really appreciated that question because I am sure so many people wonder that and do not ask.
That question hit some of my fears dead on. To be honest that is something that I have been struggling with the last couple of days. There are a lot of uncertainties going into the next two years. What if something happens to my family? What if I never get married? What if something happens to me in Cambodia? But something that God keeps asking me is, "Do you really believe that I know what is best for you?" The reality is that God knows those desires of my heart because he put them there. He shaped my heart and he knows every craving and every dream. I have to trust that.
The thing is God does want what is best for us and his plan is perfect, even when it doesn't look like what we would imagine for ourselves. Satan wants to confuse us and make us doubt God's faithfulness. And this is a time when I feel like my insecurities and my flesh are being blown to the surface and it is easy to doubt.
I am so glad that I am walking through this with you girls. God is so awesome to have given us each other and to be forming our friendships before we get to the field. We need to be constantly reminding each other of truth even now as we embark on this journey.
The truth that the Lord gave me today was Lamentations 3: 24,
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him."
I want to write that all over my body so I don't forget!
Do not become overwhelmed by anxiety about raising enough support, leaving family and friends behind or even the unknown of the future. But hope in the Lord! He is all we need and He is faithful!!
You are all amazing. Every time I tell someone about our team I realize how amazing God is to have brought us all to this point. I love the unique aspect that everyone brings and I already feel that we are a good balance of each other. I know that it is not going to be easy but what a blessing you are all to me already. Our team really is a testimony of God's faithfulness. We need to remember that when we cannot doubt that God knows what is best for us. All we can do is obey and God will not forsake us.
Love you so much already.
Wanting to abide!
Lauren
Hey girls!!girls!!I am sitting at a coffee shop after a meeting with one of my pastors and I felt that I should write you lovely girls. 🙂 I know there is a lot of anxiety going on and so I just wanted to encourage you and preach to myself a little bit because I have been a little bit anxious about everything as well.We are heading into a mission field that is going to be a battle every day. And Satan's attacks have already started. I know you all "know" that but it is easy for me to take it lightly and not realize how serious the war really is. Satan is going to try and throw lies at us and whisper doubts into our ears. He wants us to feel defeated far before we actually get to Cambodia. We must be grounded in truth and constantly do the "abiding" thing. 🙂The pastor that I just met with looked at me and asked, "So do you want to get married? If I were you, I would be nervous that that was not going to happen with the commitment of two years. How do you feel about that?" I actually really appreciated that question because I am sure so many people wonder that and do not ask.That question hit some of my fears dead on. To be honest that is something that I have been struggling with the last couple of days. There are a lot of uncertainties going into the next two years. What if something happens to my family? What if I never get married? What if something happens to me in Cambodia? But something that God keeps asking me is, "Do you really believe that I know what is best for you?" The reality is that God knows those desires of my heart because he put them there. He shaped my heart and he knows every craving and every dream. I have to trust that.The thing is God does want what is best for us and his plan is perfect, even when it doesn't look like what we would imagine for ourselves. Satan wants to confuse us and make us doubt God's faithfulness. And this is a time when I feel like my insecurities and my flesh are being blown to the surface and it is easy to doubt.I am so glad that I am walking through this with you girls. God is so awesome to have given us each other and to be forming our friendships before we get to the field. We need to be constantly reminding each other of truth even now as we embark on this journey.The truth that the Lord gave me today was Lamentations 3: 24, "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him." I want to write that all over my body so I don't forget!Do not become overwhelmed by anxiety about raising enough support, leaving family and friends behind or even the unknown of the future. But hope in the Lord! He is all we need and He is faithful!!You are all amazing. Every time I tell someone about our team I realize how amazing God is to have brought us all to this point. I love the unique aspect that everyone brings and I already feel that we are a good balance of each other. I know that it is not going to be easy but what a blessing you are all to me already. Our team really is a testimony of God's faithfulness. We need to remember that when we cannot doubt that God knows what is best for us. All we can do is obey and God will not forsake us.Love you so much already.Wanting to abide,Lauren
Hey girls!!
I am sitting at a coffee shop after a meeting with one of my pastors and I felt that I should write you lovely girls. 🙂 I know there is a lot of anxiety going on and so I just wanted to encourage you and preach to myself a little bit because I have been a little bit anxious about everything as well.
We are heading into a mission field that is going to be a battle every day. And Satan's attacks have already started. I know you all "know" that but it is easy for me to take it lightly and not realize how serious the war really is. Satan is going to try and throw lies at us and whisper doubts into our ears. He wants us to feel defeated far before we actually get to Cambodia. We must be grounded in truth and constantly do the "abiding" thing. 🙂
The pastor that I just met with looked at me and asked, "So do you want to get married? If I were you, I would be nervous that that was not going to happen with the commitment of two years. How do you feel about that?" I actually really appreciated that question because I am sure so many people wonder that and do not ask.
That question hit some of my fears dead on. To be honest that is something that I have been struggling with the last couple of days. There are a lot of uncertainties going into the next two years. What if something happens to my family? What if I never get married? What if something happens to me in Cambodia? But something that God keeps asking me is, "Do you really believe that I know what is best for you?" The reality is that God knows those desires of my heart because he put them there. He shaped my heart and he knows every craving and every dream. I have to trust that.
The thing is God does want what is best for us and his plan is perfect, even when it doesn't look like what we would imagine for ourselves. Satan wants to confuse us and make us doubt God's faithfulness. And this is a time when I feel like my insecurities and my flesh are being blown to the surface and it is easy to doubt.
I am so glad that I am walking through this with you girls. God is so awesome to have given us each other and to be forming our friendships before we get to the field. We need to be constantly reminding each other of truth even now as we embark on this journey.
The truth that the Lord gave me today was Lamentations 3: 24, "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him." I want to write that all over my body so I don't forget!
Do not become overwhelmed by anxiety about raising enough support, leaving family and friends behind or even the unknown of the future. But hope in the Lord! He is all we need and He is faithful!!
You are all amazing. Every time I tell someone about our team I realize how amazing God is to have brought us all to this point. I love the unique aspect that everyone brings and I already feel that we are a good balance of each other. I know that it is not going to be easy but what a blessing you are all to me already. Our team really is a testimony of God's faithfulness. We need to remember that when we cannot doubt that God knows what is best for us. All we can do is obey and God will not forsake us.
Love you so much already.
Wanting to abide,
Lauren
Well, as a single lady who just returned from the unknown land beyond the sea, I want to ENCOURAGE you to press on! God DOES know your heart and your trust + willingness + desire to live out loud for him, as a single lady, will hit the hearts of those lost women who feel so unloved and dirty.
I know God is going to use your common bonds of singleness in your near future, and I want to encourage you to hold fast to the promises that HE ALONE gives.
You are not “unwanted’ — you are not “less than” — you are not “ugly” or “undesirable” — you are not “unworthy to work + love others because you are single” …hello, LIES!
Keep going, beautiful friend. Live the life of bold faith and the path less traveled 🙂 I know I will hear GREAT and WONDERFUL things that God does through you.
Press on, sister. Press on.
Thank you – I love you. The blessing you’ve been to me is probably impossible to actually express. I feel as if every moment I’m struggling with something the Lord gives someone a nudge and I get a call, e-mail, text… something.
I try so hard to push down and out this desire to be married – terrified the Lord won’t be able to actually grant this desire. This is exactly what I needed (Wedding season is always really great… but hard too!).
I love you & I can’t wait to serve with you & go to precisely the place God has for us!!
Dear Lauren,
God has given you much wisdom and insight! I know that God is preparing the way for the important work He has for you in Cambodia. I know that the desire of Kristen’s heart is to one day be married, but God knows this too and His plan for both of you is perfect and will be accomplished. I praise God for bringing you all together, He is awesome and I will be praying for you!
In His love, Kathy
I came across this post today and it encouraged my heart. As a single young lady myself, these doubts and questions have been filling my mind as I pray about God’s calling upon my life to serve Him overseas. Thanks for sharing your heart with your team, and with others, like me, who the Lord guides to read this at exactly the opportune time. You have a beautiful heart and such encouraging words. I can’t wait to see all that the Lord is going to do through your team in Cambodia.
Blessings!
Laura Hamilton