The Cliff

(this picture was actually taken last week on our set-up trip. this area is called the Glass Window and it is a point on the island where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean)
 
Sometimes obedience feels like this, like looking off a cliff at the waves crashing below. The very thought of taking a step forward seems like it will be our demise. Yet doesn't the Lord seem to call us here often? He invites us to move forward one step at a time, trusting that He is who He says He is and will do all that He has promised to do.
 
Just this past week my colleague and I took a trip down to Eleuthera, which is an outer island of the Bahamas. A weak before our scheduled departure I find out that the plans that I thought that the Lord was leading us to changed. Sadly, I can say my first reaction was panic. 
 
"Lord, we fly out in less than a week and now have nowhere to stay, no transportation, and no contacts to pursue… what are you doing?"
 
Initially it felt like abandonment rather than redirection. After calling two different people that rent vehicles (there are no car rental companies on the island), we were directed to a man named Butch who not only had a car for us to rent but ended up being a follower of Christ and excited to introduce us to his pastor and Church. This was the first indicator of the Lord's redirection.
 
We boarded our flight packed with cliff bars, dried fruit, peanut butter, and tents unsure of where we would sleep, what we would eat, and with whom we would connect with.
 
Butch was there to pick us up at the airport. He then took us to show us his church and introduce us to his pastor. While there, which was only 15 minutes or so, we met a few guys from Mississippi who were there to help with construction for the week. In casual conversation they asked us where we were staying. We replied that we planned to camp on the beach. They laughed and replied that they were also camping on the beach and that we should join them! Yes!! Night one lodging.. provided.
 
Before we departed from Butch he recommended that we stop by a ministry nearby that houses teams. We did as recommended and stopped by the Eleuthera Bible Training Center and met a guy named Keith. He and his family made the decision to move down to Eleuthera in hopes of furthering the gospel in their community of James Cistern. They are incredible and I very much hope to partner with them in some capacity sometime in the near future! 
 
The next morning, after a good night sleeping on the beach, we met with another possible ministry partner at the Bahamas Methodist Habitat. It was so encouraging to hear their heart for ministry and how the Lord was using them in their local community. While there they even allowed us to use their showers and WIFI! The Lord provides again! After a full day of exploring other settlements on the Island and meeting with more pastors we made our way back up to use WIFI again. While there, Keith- the guy we met the day before, showed up (SO random) and offered up their facility for Bill and I to stay in. Crazy. So now we have beds to sleep in, bathrooms, and a kitchen if needed. We even had an incredible front porch overlooking the Caribbean, a basketball court, and ping pong tables!  
 
 
In all of these things all you can do is laugh. The Lord is so good and His plan for us truly is perfect. We could have easily cancelled our trip and just lost our airfare, but we didn't. We took a step of faith and boarded the plane. We trusted that God would provide for us, protect us, and direct us. That one small step of obedience opened up the door for SO many blessings. From getting to watch the sunset from our tents on the beach, to the blanket of stars over us, to having a shower provided, to a place to sleep and incredible relationships built that will prayerfully turn into partnerships. The greatest thing is seeing the Lord show up when you know that you had nothing to do with it. For me, stepping out of my comfort zone allows God the opportunity to expose my fears and build my faith. This is the biggest blessing of all.
 
So my challenge to you is to step off the cliff. Step out of your comfort zone. Out of the known and into the unknown. Maybe it's a small decision in your life right now. I challenge you in the face of fear to say 'yes' to Jesus. Just one step at a time. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us!
 
Maybe saying yes to Jesus right now means taking the leap of faith into the unknown of a mission trip with Adventures Youth to the Bahamas. Who knows what the Lord might have in store! What we do know is that "His plans are not to harm us, but to give us a hope and a future," (Jer 29:11).
 
If you are ready to leave your comfort zone in faith that God will indeed show up you can sign up your youth group here.
 
Be blessed!