The year was 2016. A lot of things happened in my life and I’m sure a lot of things happened in yours as well. I want to bullet point 15 highs and lows of 2016 from my world and share what I learned about God through it all.
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I volunteered at three Project Searchlights and two Training Camps for the World Race.
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I shared a dream of starting a place of restoration and equipping for burnt out missionaries, with senior leadership at Adventures in Missions.
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I got a package in the mail that contained a ring that I hadn’t expected to get back after I had given it to the woman I thought I was going to marry.
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My heart went numb.
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I completed Adventures in Missions second year discipleship program, Center for Global Action.
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The Lord showed me the tools He has equipped me with, sharpened them, and is teaching me how to use them.
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I went through inner healing and professional, Holy Spirit lead, counselling.
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I personally met over 117 new friends!
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I became part of a team that formed to go to Nepal for long term missions through Adventures in Missions.
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By working diligently with God for six months, enough financial support was raised to launch in the direction of Nepal in 2017.
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I became an uncle four more times!
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I went to seven weddings!
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I traversed 20+ miles of the Appalachian Trail.
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I climbed Mt. Yonah 3 times.
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My heart has been restored.
There’s a saying, “God is good. And all the time, God is good.” And it’s true. The goodness of God is not based on the circumstances you or I are going through. He is who He is or as He puts it, “I AM who I AM.” Life happens- “good” and “bad”. And one of the best promises of God is that He will use anything that happens, to those who love Him, to work towards their benefit. We may not see it as we’re in the midst of our pain, but He is good. In 2016 I experienced that God is close to the broken hearted. I experienced that praising Him through the trials and pain of life produces something within you that allows you to know His heart more, which allows you to be His heart more to the one in front of you.
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to rejoice in the Lord at all times. Re-joy-ce, maybe that means to celebrate Joy again, and at all times “good” or “bad”. Joy is different than happiness. Happiness is based on circumstances. True Joy is greater than any happiness, it includes all the feelings of happiness, but also has the peace and reassurance of being a beloved friend and child of God.
I’m thankful and grateful for all that happened in 2016 and I’m excited for everything that is ahead in 2017! I’m also stoked that so many of my friends are journeying with me this next year! 🙂
Love,
-Paul
