You Are Here for a Reason- Part Two
By our third day in the village, I had already felt God show up in a big way, when He told me that I am here because He needs me here. Getting to share that with the kids of the village was incredible! I thought that was the one way that He was going to move in my heart in that trip, and that would be it. Nope! God continued to show up in amazing ways! The following day, we got the chance to go into the homes of some of the community members, hear their stories, and pray for them, which was life changing. Their stories reminded me of God’s faithfulness, and how He continued to provide for them, year after year.
After that prayer time, we had a time of solitude on the mountain at the top of the village. This solitude time was another moment where God reminded me of His faithfulness, and how He has a plan, greater than any of us can understand. During this solitude, we were told to just go sit. No bibles, no journals, no phones. Just you and God. That was hard for me, because my first impulse was to immediately write down everything I felt God telling me. I learned that by just sitting, not doing anything but talking to God, and more importantly, letting God talk to me, He would reveal some really big things. God told me to look at the people I had just prayed over. They were older, many of them lived alone, and they didn’t have much, but God continued to provide. Then He flipped the script on me, and said: “Cassidy, look at you!” By all medical standards, I should not be here. I should not have been able to go climb that hill, play catch with the kids, or be able to pray over the village people, but I did. The only reason why I was able to do these things is because God is in control. He has me, and all of you reading this, alive for a reason. Even if you struggle with a disability, or just the pressures of life nowadays, you are here for a reason. God has a great and perfect plan for you, better than anything you could ever imagine. He will use your story for His glory, no matter what that story includes! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
My view during solitude. I found myself constantly in awe of God’s Creation, and was reminded over and over again that as incredible as this creation is, we are more incredible to Him because we are made in His image!(Genesis 1:27 NIV)
The rest of the week, God proved that to me over and over again. We got more opportunities to pray over people, and teach the kids about Jesus. I was on my feet, and my body was tired, but I pushed through. I even made my way across a river that I wasn’t sure I would be able to cross (with a little help-thanks team!). Over and over again, I found myself pausing and slowing down. Taking in the people, God’s creation, and the fact that I was actually doing the one thing that God calls all of us to do: go spread His love and His word everywhere we can.
Playing with the kids after teaching them about Jesus at their school. I was really able to slow down and take this day in, and I experienced true Biblical joy unlike anything else! It was a day I will never forget!
I have come back from this incredible week changed forever, and reminded of the following: God loves you exactly as you are, and He doesn’t make mistakes. God has a plan for you, and He will be with you along the journey, making a way, even when it feels impossible. God has transformed my heart and left me saying “Look at God,” full of gratitude for Him and all that He is able to do. Even when things feel impossible, God can, and will, make a way, because He is a God of miracles! “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19 NIV).
