I know what you’re thinking… “silly Amanda, you’re not 5 years old!?!??!”
And you would be so right, I’m 24 years old. But 5 years ago on this day, I was REborn.
Five years ago today, in a small village in Haiti while serving with Mission of Hope through the Texas A&M atheltics program, Jesus saved me from myself in a way that is totally unexplainable, no words will ever amount to that moment my soul was returned to the Lord. Since that day, my life has been nothing but exceptionally better because of Jesus.
Not easier, but better.
Looking back on these past 5 years, the Lord has been nothing short of unfathomably kind where I have been utterly undeserving. He has set my life on a path that is quite opposite than what I ever intended, but so much more fulfilling and purposeful than I ever thought imaginable. He has built up my giftings and equipped me to spread his good news to co-workers, random coffee shop goers, and those who were once skeptics like me. He has closed doors that I wanted to keep open and is faithful to give me what I need instead of what I think I want. He has convicted me and continually changes my heart as he sees fit to sanctify me to his character. He has given me comfort in the deepest of heartbreaks and brings purpose to the hardest things in this life. He has been patient with me as I have fallen short of his commands and gently directs me back to him when I have forgotten my place in his heart.
Simply put, my awe for God goes beyond myself as I try to wrap my mind around how a Holy God is able to so intimately love and care for a disobedient child. And then I remember his promised fulfilled of sending his heart in flesh to burden the wrath we deserve and restoring our relationship once and for all.
What a God, what a Love.
With that being said, today is a VERY fun day for me and not only because it’s my reborn birthday…
Beautifully prepared far before I asked for it, the Lord set forth this day (May 15th 2022) in a way only he could. From my perspective, this day was an incredibly specific answered prayer that is just one in a million ways the Lord has shown me his supreme goodness.
Here is why:
The story begins 5 years ago while I was sitting at the Mission of Hope base in Titenyan, Haiti. Just a few days after Jesus revealed himself to me in a way that changed my life and my eternity forever. I found myself talking with a girl who was also serving with Mission of Hope at the time with a team who had set off on a year-long mission program called… The World Race. She talked of the places her team had been and the difficulties surrounding the year. She gushed about her favorite places the Lord took her and spoke with a noticable distaste of the more “challenging” memories of the year that she could have lived without.
Me, listening intently to her stories, thinking to myself “good for her, but COULD NOT be me.” Meanwhile, God let out a small and knowing chuckle.
Fast forward to February 2021, the Lord fatihfully lead me to the decision of applying and setting off for The World Race myself. Knowing that The World Race worked with Mission of Hope in Haiti, I began praying that somehow, in a full circle sort of way, God would give me the opportunity to serve alongside the organization that holds a uniquely special place in my heart during the year.
After months of prayer, three route changes, and a whole-lotta kindness from God; he placed me with Mission of Hope working with the Haitian community within the Dominican Republic on my 5th “birthday” as a believer. So, I get to celebrate with the same organization and the same people group that the Lord used to bring me to him 5 years prior.
Legitimately, only God.
Today holds lots of emotional nostalgia for me as I remember who I once was and how much the Lord has changed my heart in five short years. Throughout all the heartbreaks, failures, unmet expectations, and mistakes I have undoubtedly made in the last 5 years; one thing is certain- God remains today and everyday the most constant, unchanging and good foundation in a world that is designed to confuse, hurt, and dissappoint you. Yet even if I found myself in a world consistent with perfection, a utopian-esque society, I would still bow in reverence before God simply because HE IS.
Knowing God, and more, being known by God is our soul’s cry. We often work so tirelessly for what is freely given to us by our Creator. My prayer is that you would come to understand the true character of God. That he would reveal himself to those who seek him and that his truth would overcome anything this world has deceived us with. If there is anything I know to be true about the love of God after ministry in 7 countries throughout my 5 years as a follower of Jesus; it is that his love resonates and innately effects the heart of every human, no matter the culture/upbringing/story/family/language. It is the most scandalous in nature because it is the most unlike this world.
So, here I am. Five years into an eternity with God, currently living in the midst of an answered prayer and in awe of God’s very specific kindness today. I am unashamedly sold out for the gospel of Jesus that has saved me and continues to save me. I encourage you to seek the Lord today. Whether you have a close realtionship with him, or you haven’t spoken to him in a while; his promises remain true regardless of how far we feel like we have fallen. May we always understand our need for Jesus and just how remarkable it is that we have an opportunity for a relationship with our Creator.
Thank you, Jesus.
