Wherever You Go
Good morning from Managua, Nicaragua!
In a recent conversation with Jarol, one of my staff members in El Canyon, about the kids who will be leaving the orphanage I was reminded of an important truth – the one true God is with us wherever we go if we are in Christ. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NIV) As God promised to Joshua shortly after the death of Moses, we can find strength in the fact that He will always be there. As the kids move on to the next chapter of their lives, they too can know that God has not abandoned them. In the same way God prepared Joshua through his time walking along side Moses, God gave these young people the chance to learn many things, both spiritually and tangibly, while they were at Hogar Puente de Amistad. Now that same God walks with them as they get the opportunity to apply all that they have learned.
This truth applies to our lives as well. When unwanted change comes we often forget that God remains the same. By reminding ourselves of His faithfulness, we can find the same strength and courage that Joshua found. In my experience, we can also reflect on our past and find many moments of learning that allow us to better take on our future. When I first felt God’s call to move to Nicaragua, I was a little confused. I had spent the ten years prior working in the financial industry and my family’s businesses, and volunteering with ministries inside and outside of my church. While they were all great opportunities, I wasn’t sure how they applied to my new journey in this Latin American country. However, what I have found is that they were the perfect preparation, both from a skill and an understanding standpoint. Additionally, God has shown me that he is the same God in Nicaragua as He is in Westminster, Maryland. Though the world around me is unfamiliar, my Heavenly Father is not.
As we walk through this journey called life, we can be assured that change is always on the horizon. In Christ, we can also be confident in the fact that God will be with us wherever the road leads. Be strong and courageous for he is with you wherever you go.
– James Belt
In2theRiver 