Transition - and the Need for God

I finished my position as a nanny roughly a month ago and to be honest, it has been a struggle moving into this next phase of the journey. Ministry preparation is now my full-time job and it takes intentional focus and motivation. However, it is hard to be intentional, especially in ministry, when you try to do it alone. Without God's power and strength and without prayer and accountability it was to get stuck in a deep rut. Distractions, laziness, numbing, and isolation were quickly becoming my norm. I did not know how to move forward on my own and it was easier to quit trying.

But thankfully God does not expect us to get out of the ruts of life on our own. He has taught me a lot about how much I need Him and others, especially going into longer-term missions overseas. It was easy to believe the lie "I am alone" but the truth is God has provided me with individuals that love me and care about me if I am willing to be vulnerable and reach out. These individuals have been able to point me back to the ultimate source of life and strength - God himself. "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." [Psalm 29:11]

And so, while the steps have been small, I am moving forward. I am spending more time talking to God and reading his Word. I am tackling one small task at a time. I am reaching out with more specific prayer requests. I am preparing for my training and I am actually excited for 4 weeks of intentional learning. I am reminding myself of the many beautiful people God has placed in my life both here and Romania.

The struggle is far from over. The enemy doesn't want me to be successful and will continue to do everything in his power to keep me off task. "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." [1 Peter 5:8]
But God is always victorious if only we continue to rely on him. "For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory." [Deuteronomy 20:4]

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Update on the Journey:

• My four weeks of training at the Center for Intercultural Training (CIT) in North Carolina begin Sunday. This will be cross-cultural training and equipping. 
• Following training I will begin intentional ministry partner development - meeting with individuals to share my ministry vision and financial goals - in order to be ready to return to Romania in September.