I found this letter in a box full of cards that I have saved over the years. I didn’t even know I had this until I was organizing the other day. I wrote this back in 2005 when I was 16 years old, explaining why I wanted to go on a mission trip to Romania. It is amazing to see how God has made my dreams come true. I somehow always knew that I would be here one day and to say I finally am is so fulfilling.

This past year has been an amazing one! God has proven Himself faithful time and time again, especially since we’ve been on the mission field. I can honestly say we have depended on God like never before, from trusting Him with our finances, to warring against spiritual darkness. We have had opportunities to share Christ through various outreaches we have done with the homeless community, Young Adult services and retreats, camps, serving on the worship team, being small group leaders, evangelizing in the Ukraine, delivering Christmas shoeboxes and food to one of the poorest parts of the country. I personally have grown this past year in finding joy and contentment in motherhood and the season that I am in right now. So often I look to the next thing or wonder when I will enter into the next season of life but I have realized the past few months that this way of thinking is wrong. God wants us to build our relationship with Him, even when it feels like we are going through the desert. It is through that trying time that God sees just how deep our relationship is with Him. If we are not able to make it through the dry times, how will we ever get through bigger moments of life when we are more visible or in the spotlight? 

Here is an excerpt from a book that has deeply impacted me, “Anonymous” by Alicia Britt Chole.

Why does Father God lead those He loves into deserts?

• To humble us,
• to test us,
• to know what is in our hearts,
• to see if we will keep His commands,
• to teach us to depend upon him, and
• to discipline us as His children.

If we do not respect His craftsmanship in unapplauded seasons, all that is visible in our lives will rest on a fragile foundation and eventually – through the added weight the visible brings – we will experience collapse.

Never give up on the dreams God has placed in your heart. His timing really is perfect and He wants the absolute best for your life. Take time to grow in the secret place and truly grow in your relationship with the Lord before you step into the next season. He has you.