"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you,
I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Jeremiah 1:5
It amazes me how God shows up at just the right time. He is always there, but it's in the smallest ways that He shows His faithfulness.
You see, Jeremiah was young when the Lord appointed him to the nations. He was still under his parents roof when God said, "Jeremiah, GO." I love the book of Jeremiah, and how God used Jeremiah in His youth. At first, he didn't want to. Jeremiah knew he was young, and he knew that no one would want to listen to someone as young as him. However, because of his faithfulness to God he obeyed and began to preach. Before God even created Jeremiah, He knew what Jeremiah's life was going to be like. He knew the difficulties he would experience. He knew he would endure persecution. Jeremiah was a determined, dedicated, long-suffering, and visionary follower of God. No matter the cost, he did what he could to obey his Father.
Today was one of those days. One of those days that I struggle with wanting to be in Uganda, but at the same time wondering what life is going to be like away from home. I look back at God's faithfulness. The faithfulness that He has kept within my lifetime..
It was my sophomore year in high school. Mom comes into my room, and sits down on my bed. I was on my computer fiddling around on Facebook. She says, "I need to talk to you about something." She gives me that look..the look that I do not like to see. She tells me that there's a cyst on her ovaries that could possibly be cancerous. My first reaction..I don't even know what to say at this point. After a few minutes of thinking about it, I thought to myself, 'No..not my mom. There is no way that something this major could ever happen to my family.' However, it did.
It was Christmas Eve morning. My family was running around franticly, getting ready to feed the homeless at church. Mom walks into my room as I am getting ready. All of a sudden, what I hated seeing the most, happened. The tears. They started to fall, and I knew that was going to come. But when? As the tears fell she said, "My hair is starting to fall out..." Then came my tears. It wasn't long after that she shaved her head. Those months of chemo seemed to be the longest months of my life. Mom struggled, but not once did she waver in her faith in God. Not once. Before she was even born, the Lord knew that He was going to allow this to happen to her. He knew that her faith would be so strong that she and the Lord would fight through it together. And there it was.. His faithfulness. My beautiful mother is a cancer survivor.
So from then on it's a happy ending? HA. I wish. It was my mom's cancer that opened my eyes to what true faith in Christ is. Am I happy she had cancer? No. But am I thankful? Of course! She is a walking testimony. Not only she, but my dad is as well. December of 2012..right after returning from Uganda the second time, my dad had a heart attack. A heart attack of which they call 'The Widows Maker'. Talk about scary! However, as always, there it was.. His faithfulness. My dad's heart looks better than it did before the heart attack. All I can say is, ONLY GOD.
The Lord knew all of this before my parents were ever even thought of, and He knew that I would be moving to Uganda. The fact that someone I have never even talked to asked for a support letter today, says it all. He's got this, and He's got this down pat. It's the little things. God knew that I would have days that I struggle, but He also knew that my struggles are not anywhere near as big as He is. My Daddy sits on the throne forever watching over me. Forever protecting me, and forever loving me. Forever staying faithful to me, and forever guiding me.
He knew and He knows. He loves and He cares. He's here, He's there. He promises, and He is faithful.
- Kaitlyn
- Kaitlyn