In our time in community three, the Lord continually led me back to a posture of remembrance. Remembering who He is, who He has been, and who He will be.The prayer and cry of the people in this community right now is for rain. Physically, this community needs rain to water their plants, feed their families, and provide for their community. On a home visit, walking with a friend in her home, she showed me the withered crops and the dried up water source. It would be easy to be discouraged, to question if He will yet again be faithful to provide. But the people of this community have hope. She watered her crops with the little water she had and reminded me. Reminded me that the Lord has provided every other time, why wouldn’t He do it again? It brought me to a place of sweet remembrance in my own life. How often do I not trust because I just forget? Forget that He is good and kind and He’s been faithful every other time?
In reading some of the book of Exodus in this community, I was struck by the way the Israelites so often forgot who God was too. When they forgot who He was, the ways He provided again and again, they grumbled and complained and questioned the intentions and the goodness of God. But yet when they did again remember, their immediate response was rejoicing. Time and time again they forgot, but when they remembered, they were moved to rejoicing in the simple character of God.
I walked into community three forgetting. I had forgotten all that God had done in these days, all the ways He’s moved in our community and the communities we’re walking into. I had forgotten that God didn’t have to bring me to East Africa to remind me of who He was again- He did it because He’s kind. Getting to walk back into the same place with the same people for a second time, I was instantly reminded. Being in this community again reminded me of the provision of our God, the ways He had grown and watered our own hearts in the short weeks between. Walking back into this community was the reminder to me of who God is and all the ways He’s been moving. The remembrance led me to rejoicing- rejoicing in the kindness of God, the ways He has been steadfast and unwavering, even when I’ve forgotten who He is. In being on our knees for rain this summer, both physically and spiritually, may we fight to be people who remember. May our remembrance always lead to rejoicing in an abundant God.
Caroline Wilson | Journey 2017 Intern