Step Out

Deuteronomy 31:8 (AMP) —

‘It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’

When I graduated from University, I really wanted to do a gap year abroad, but the cost was eye-watering, and so that desire went on the back burner.

In 2008 I attended a Christian youth conference, by myself (this was a big thing for me at the time, as I was on the shy side). There were various stalls at the conference: one was promoting a fully-funded overseas volunteering programme. I just about made the age criterion so I applied and thought: what's the worst that can happen, other than not being successful? To cut a long story short, I was successful and sent to India in 2009 for three months, all expenses paid!

Part of the trip was spending three days with a local family in Jaipur. I must admit I was a bit anxious because there was talk of shrines to other gods in some of these homes, and that didn't sit well with my faith. Nevertheless, I pressed on trusting that God had my back.

As I sat down to dinner with the local family, the grandfather (head of the home) asked his grandson to pray. My anxiety rose as I thought my dinner was about to be offered to a foreign god! Lo and behold, the grandson prayed in Jesus' name. I can't begin to explain the internal joy I experienced at that dining table. I continued to enjoy great fellowship and encouragement with the family for many years after my volunteering.

God knew I was going to be just fine on my trip and that he was going to place me with the only Christian family in the area. Oh, how God cares about both minutiae and great details of our lives. The God who made heaven and earth thought of me and never failed,  left nor forsook me in India.

Prayer - Holy Spirit please help me to be bold and step out in faith into whatever and wherever it is you're calling me to, knowing the truth that you'll never fail, leave nor forsake me.