Hard & Holy Things

A universal truth that I often have difficulty acknowledging is that life changes. Whether we want it to or not, we as humans try to make plans before a God who knows far better and then have the audacity to view these changes as hard. And I think that's okay: I think the fear is normal, the anxiety is expected, and the obedience may seem like a insurmountable mountain that you face. But let me also share this truth with you: it is worth it.

Making the change, doing the thing that scares you, even when you know it's right and it still makes your pulse race just a little bit quicker - it's worth it.

That's been the moral of my last two months, and something I know the Lord will continue to remind me as the year carries on.

As "selah" gets challenged and I am expected to prepare for what comes next, to be obedient and worship through it - I can tell you I expectantly and enthusiastically look forward to it.

Not because the changes suddenly got any easier, or I got any more thrilled about the prospect of being made uncomfortable when things are out of my control, but because I know that the Lord is, and will continue to, equip me to do hard and holy things, and I know that He will do the same for you as well.

As the plans change, and people come and go, and relationships end, and siblings prepare to leave for college- as the Lord utterly breaks down our flesh so that we may be sanctified; as jobs re-shape and visions are created and callings are laid upon our souls - it may utterly break our hearts, it may seem difficult in the moment, and you may cry out to the Lord "what comes next?" I challenge you to do it anyways.

Be obedient in the face of hard things and realise that the hardest parts are often the holiest. The bits that we think might break us, that fill us with such trepidation upon coming upon that next right step, are often the most peace bringing in the wake of that decision.

I have known more peace in the last two months than I think I've known in a very long time, and the choices that got me here seemed so far from what I pictured for myself; but I can tell you that I am far more thrilled with what lay before me now than anything I could have crafted for myself.

I had the opportunity to serve at multiple camps this summer, and every one of them brought with it a beautiful peace of the Lord's love, goodness, and grace, but I think the moment that most perfectly encapsulates the last few months for me, was at my last camp of the summer: St. Simon's Leadership camp.

Going into it, I was exceptionally nervous - scared even!

Now on the other side of it, I can tell you that those momentary "discomforts" and fears also produced one of the most beautiful moments of worship I've had in a long time - like the on your knees, weeping, unable to say anything other than "thank you Jesus". One of my girls rededicated their lives to the Lord. Our team clicked. I made friends with some of the sweetest huddle leaders ever, who just so happen to live near me.

I did the hard thing and saw nothing but holiness on the other side of it.

Again and again and again the Lord showed up at the exact moment that I thought "this might be too hard for me" - because doing anything on our own apart from the Lord will be too hard for us. That's why we are to have our hearts utterly surrendered to Him - that's why we let the holiness in.

Without Christ there'd be no sanctification, but because of Christ we can be transformed in the most marvellous way, over and over again, by submitting to His will and seeking out what He desires for us.

Apart from Him, change is simply hard. But through and with Him? It simply feels like standing on holy ground - affirmation surrounding you, peace filling you, each next step all the more clear and confidently able to take.

You can do hard and holy things.

So go and do it.

Welcome back....

- Emma

"Be fearless in pursuit of what sets your soul on fire."