First Proper Blog

A testimony to trusting in the Lord

Okay so it’s my first proper blog and I’m little nervous about how this is going to come out; I’m not a great communicator but I want to share a little testimony to encourage you guys.

I’m not really sure where to start but I guess the story I’m about to tell you about my own walk with God over the past couple of months (actually maybe a bit longer than that) is one based on obedience and trust and is based on Proverbs 3 v 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lead not on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” and another one to bear in mind and I guess a bit of truth that has been keeping my going throughout this time is Romans 8 v28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”.

I guess the first little bit of this story starts with a struggle in faith and trust in god resulting in disobedience and an emotional battle. I had a long summer and I had a lot of decisions to make about my housing situation for the next year, I was also going into my second year at uni knowing that I need to move church. I spent a while in prayer over this, lengths of time thinking and asking others to pray for me. I was all set to move into a house with some of my best friends and was even the one who worked hard to find somewhere that would fit us all in! However God had other plans for me, big hurdles kept on coming up that were preventing me from moving into the house and I knew that God was saying no, although at the time I had no idea why (I couldn’t understand why he’d say no to moving in with a bunch of good Christian friends). Anyway although it was a big step and defiantly something I didn’t want to do I put my trust in the Lord and decided not to move in which left me with nowhere to live. But hey, God certainly provides and I was able to find accommodation with a couple from church; In my eyes not ideal as I wanted to be with friends but it is most defiantly a blessing which I am thankful to God for.

The second big thing for me at that time was my church situation.

I was attending a really great church in central London but never really found my-self settling in there. I prayed about it and felt to change church. I felt that god wanted me to be in a church where I would grow and that’s not saying I wouldn’t have grown in the other church as I know that God loves me and even when I screw up he will use the situation to bless me but I knew that God had better plans and that I needed to trust him and move.

I visited a small church in East London (which is where uni is based) and knew this was where God wanted me to be, prayers that had previously been prayed confirmed this. However I spent a long time reasoning with myself and instead of following my heart and obeying God I went with my head and carried on at the same church I was at.

The small east London church that I visited; was small which I wasn’t used to, it lacked people my own age and as to where I’m currently living was quite a distance to travel to so I decided not to go. However I knew that if I was obedient to God and attended that church that I would grow in faith and that he would deepen my roots (this had been prayed over me). Just before Christmas I reasoned with myself again and gained perspective on things, church wasn’t about friends but family, it wasn’t about size and it defiantly wasn’t about serving my own needs, it’s about serving God and allowing him to grow you in faith and also stepping into his promises. So I took the plunge and started attending the church in east London.

I realise that this is a really brief overview of the situation but I just wanted you to get a brief picture of the situation and be able to see the emotional stress and struggles I was going through. I guess that’s because the point is that trusting in the Lord isn’t easy and in fact it seems easier to do things your own way but actually God’s way is much better for us because we are his children and he loves and wants to bless us, he has plans for us and wanted to use us.

This story does have a happy ending (although defiantly not over) because God is good and otherwise I wouldn’t be sharing this with you, I want you to feel encouraged. I have already seen the result of trusting God and seen that his plan is better… I have plans to move into a flat with a close friend this summer, a friendship I think god has given to bless each other and pray and share our lives with one another so that we can be growing in faith. I’m also in a church surrounded by people who build one another up and who I’m sure will quickly become like a second family to me and who have already become a blessing to be with.

I can now see that although throughout this situation although I didn’t understand, God had it all in control and that he is the one who is directing my paths and he is the one who will carry on directing my paths.

P.s. sorry for the cheesy second to last paragraph but it’s late and I was waffling and I needed to sum up my point.

I hope this was somewhat enjoyable to read and that you feel encouraged to keep trusting in God even when it’s hard! Xx