Stuck (guest post)

Last summer when I was on my first "real" mission trip, there was a moment that I will never forget. As I sat in tears, God told me to be a missionary. So of course I got all excited and scared and told everyone I knew. With pride I said that I was ready for what God had in store for my future. People don't expect an 18 year old girl to come back from their first mission trip (only a few hours away, nonetheless) with a calling from God. I blew off their weird looks thinking they didn't understand. I thought I knew I was ready. I was so wrong.

Lately I have been feeling stuck. Stuck in the same life, the same high school, and possibly even the same Christian lifestyle. I let my feelings come out as anger and hatred, lashing out against God and everyone around me. 

As I was brushing my teeth last night, I began tearing up, and God began to talk to me. He told me that being Stuck is one of the best ways to know you're ready to move forward into the life He has planned for you. That you're ready to give God control of all aspects of your life. 

So what? Am I still stuck for now? Yes! But this time I can rejoice in it because I know that there's something better around the corner. Childlike faith is something to hold onto, but in some ways I feel like this is God's way of telling me to enjoy my life as a kid, because He has bigger plans for me than the life I am currently living. 

I promise that this does have something to do with El Salvador, so here is the magic connection. 

I was already stoked for the trip, but now I realize that the purpose of it is to prepare my heart for the future. It's the beginning of getting unStuck. El Salvador may be the stepping stone into what I'm supposed to do with my life, and I believe that's the reason God has made it possible for me to be here. 

The date of the trip is rapidly approaching, and as scary as that is, I am preparing my heart to serve the Lord. I will enjoy and appreciate all that I am blessed with, such as my extensive wardrobe, running water, readily available meals, and my daily intake of tea (it's a must have!). Not everyone is blessed with these things as I am. Leaving the country will be a huge wake-up call. Goodbye shoes, hello lost souls!

If you take anything from reading this know that I will be spending the next three weeks before we leave opening my heart to what God has in store for me in El Salvador and beyond. Next time you feel Stuck in life, ask yourself if you're ready to accept your next God-given mission, and then praise Him with me!

Bailey