Time moves on and plans change, and this has certainly been true for me this year. It's been very up and down for me since the beginning of the year. When it began I thought I would be heading off to Africa in the first few months of the year, to begin a year of mission work for God. It felt right and seemed right - I know God wants me to head to Africa at some point so I figured this was where I was heading... God had other plans.
When I look back on these last few months, I recognise that God had a purpose in allowing me to apply for The Gambia, preparing for it and closing the door. I'm not sure what all of His motives or reasons were, but I am learning to trust that God knows best! Though I was expecting Africa, it looks like God is closing that door (for now, not for good) and showing me another. I am beginning to push other doors to see where God truly wants me to be.
Meanwhile I am teaching again which I realise I really missed! I've been given the opportunity to teach a couple of classes in one primary school in York and I teach them each week. If there's one thing those kids in those classes need, it's the love of God. So I'm just praying that God will use me right here and now to bless those kids!
So, what am I learning? Well, that God has it all in hand. It is no use me trying to plan and predict where and what God wants me to be and do; I need to leave it to Him to show me the way. I cannot just sit and wait; I have to go out and push those doors, but knowing which ones will open and which one will slam shut is not for me to guess!
I am also re-learning that when I allow God to lead; when I let Him take the steering wheel of my life and don't try to plan myself, then my life turns out so much better, so much more blessed, and so much more exciting than if I ever tried to do it myself!
I am learning, slowly but surely, to let EVERYTHING sit in the hand of God. It is the safest place for me to put my life and my plans. God really does know best and He is teaching me to trust that He has it all in hand.
