Growing in Trust
Part Two
The other day I wrote about feeling out of control of the situations that effect the people I love in my life. I said I chose to lean into God and confront my fears. Today I want to share how he brought redemption and glory to his name through those days.
We left off in the morning of my friends departure to the hospital and my realization of distrust in the Lord. I had a really tough morning and we were headed to ministry soon, and I just prayed for God to bring peace and strength for the kids we were headed to serve. I asked him to bring healing to my distrust in him and gave him my fear for Chelsey (my friend headed to the hospital).
Ministry that day completely turned my day around and the kids just brought me so much joy. God allowed me to find peace from my fears and enjoy loving on the teens at our ministry location. Then he blessed me with the opportunity to serve our ministry hosts and teammates through cooking dinner. If you don’t know me, I love to cook for people. It is a way I love to share my love for them and it brings me so much joy. So the rest of the day was spent with some of the amazing girls from Oasis cooking raviolis for our teammates and blessing them with flavors from home.
The day ended at the dinner table filled with joy and love, and the most laughter we have had as a whole team of people since we got to Costa Rica. Our day was redeemed from fear, sadness, and just hardships to joy, love, and hope. That night peoples hearts were filled with radical feelings of Chelsey’s healing. Prayers were sent up of radical healing with no surgery and it seemed everyone just knew God was going to bring healing. I still held some doubt in him, but I was willing to hope. I spoke with my girl on the phone that night and she was filled with peace and belief in healing without surgery as well. It was honestly so shocking for me.
We finished the night in worship and praise to our Father who brought so much peace and joy to our hard day, and communion and fellowship with him in remembering his promises.
The next few days brought joyful news of God creating avenues for Chels to get in with the doctor even though their schedule was full. Then God opening the door for her to get in with the surgeon who looked over her diagnosis and shockingly told her that her Polydenal Cyst was healing itself. What?! All the things I was so fearful of, he showed me his glory and redeemed in me his promises and my trust. He allowed me to learn to trust him again.
The icing on the cake was when she finally got home completely healed of her wounds and pain, and with a new confidence in who she is in him. It was the most beautiful moment to hug her and just see the beauty of who God made her to be radiating out of her. She left filled with fear and doubt, and returned with peace and confidence.
God is redemption. If we allow him, he will redeem all our hurts and pains, and will leave us made whole and beautifully confident in him. Let him redeem your heart and soul. I pray that over everyone because it is powerful when we choose to trust him even when it is hard.
I just feel like I need to leave you all with a question to sit in and take to the Lord. So… what is something or an area in your life that needs redeeming? How is God creating your redemption story for his glory?
I love you all and will be praying over his movement in your lives. Please keep my team in your prayers as we continue this walk of redemption.
Wow, did I need this right now! So much is happening all around us, and I have to remember the power in prayer. Bless you!
Ashton, thanks for sharing your vulnerability in this two part story. One of the things I am learning from your generation is that it is OK to do this (my generation struggles with this). Thank you for “bringing us along” in learning to do this. What a powerful story (both in the loss and struggle from the story yesterday and the outcome with your friend in this part)!
Ashton I am so proud of you for being open and honest and for challenging me and others as well! I am so proud of you!!!
YES! The GOD we serve — there are no human words to adequately describe Him or His love for us, or even His power. I try to always remember that the same God who parted the Red Sea, the same God who poured down manna from heaven, the same God who raised Jesus from the dead is the same GOD who hears our prayers today and answers them. HE NEVER CHANGES. Only we, His people, do. LOVE YOU girl! Keep inspiring.
Thanks Ashton for updating us. So glad your friend is doing better. Also, glad you feel better too. Stay safe. Enjoy your mission trip.
Continued prayers for you and your team on your journey. Great story and testament to how God works. Have a great birthday. Love and miss you.