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My heart full of anticipation, I woke this morning before the alarm even went off. The November air is crisp and sky is still dark. With rays of sunlight just beginning to peak over the horizon I roll over and kiss my husband's forehead. I pull the covers up and enjoy the warmth for just a moment longer before my phone starts chiming with texts of encouragement and prayers and we prepare to leave for San Francisco to board the plane for Lebanon, leaving the familiar and comfort of our home for the excitement of the unknown.
Over the last few months the Lord has been preparing me for this with whispers of His goodness. Gently tugging at my heart to trust Him, telling me to "Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). We meet up with the rest of the team and begin our journey.
As rain begins to fall on the windshield my soul leaps with joy. I'm sure this is a sign of what is to come, God's blessings pouring down on us. I love the rain. It brings promise of life, washing away the old and ushering in new life. I feel so confident that He has so much to show me. He reminds me that “I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20, NASB). So I begin humbled, with an eager expectation of seeing Him move in ways I've not known and the hope that I will be forever changed by this experience.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
“For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
- Isaiah 55:8-12 (NASB)