Hope for the Future

One of my favorite pursuits of ministry so far in Nicaragua has actually nothing to do with Nicaragua.

It pertains to ‘mentoring’ the World Race Gap Year girls that have been on the Farm with us at REAP the past few weeks. Its been a sweet opportunity to lean in to these 18-20 year olds in their final two months on their race and be able to impart the smallest bit of wisdom as they prepare to step into the real world of college, work, or simply going back to undesirable home situations.

To be quite honest, I worry about the coming generations.

In a world that is selling a narrative of happiness and self-love, it can be tough for a person to dodge the noise and press forward in the tougher lessons of self sacrifice and seeking His goodness instead of your own. As the world will grow increasingly more outlandish in it’s morality, living a life for Jesus will become less and less popular. My hope for the coming generations is to set their eyes on the things above and push past the false narratives.

However prepared I was to impart wisdom to these girls in aiding their understanding of God’s love and holiness; I was equally unprepared to be utterly impressed by their answers to our book study. They came prepared to challenge and discuss the bigger ideas of the book with scripture references and deep insight into the Truth of the Lord. They tested everything with scripture and were quick to dismiss ideas that seemed too self-focused rather than glorifying to the Lord.

Shocked is a misrepresentation of my reaction. Elated is more fitting.

Though the girls may have questioned even the smallest of ideas, they put everything to the test. They refused to take anything for face. They came fully equipped to fight anything not of Jesus with their swords (aka the Word of God). We ironed out their bigger theological questions and straightened out the ever constant battle between flesh and spirit.

My favorite conversation derived from a sentence that suggested an emphasis on “feeling” the love of God. In which one of the girls retorted that “our relationship with God should not be based upon feeling Him in our lives. Our feelings are not always true.”

To hear her say this. Out loud. As a 20 year old. In a world that focuses immensely on feelings over everything. I could have cried right there.

This brought me so much hope for the future.

While our feelings might be valid, they are not always true. Jeremiah 17:9 says “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

The original Hebrew meaning of the word “heart” here is used to describe a wide array of feelings, our will, and even the intellect of a person. It cannot be trusted. It decieves us above all things- above anything of this world, the enemy, others, etc. Above all the things we typically blame for our downfalls; most likely it is actually our own hearts that deceive us.

We shouldn’t follow our hearts, we should inform our hearts. (JP)

Psalm 119:9-11 says this:
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

We fight our feelings with the truth of God. There are true things, and then there is Truth. Unshakable, everlasting, foundational that stand the test of time. We need to be aware of the difference.

My awe of these girls gave me hope for the future of the Church. As the Lord usually does, he used these girls to teach me that my worry is endearing, but not necessary. God’s heart for the future of his people is more powerful than anything this world could be able to thwart. There is no doubt in my mind that as these youngins embark on the race of life, they are sure to cause ripple effects for the gospel wherever they end up.