Challenges…or…?

The dictionary defines a {challenge} as

"a task or situation that tests someone's ability".

I think that definition totally applies to what our family has been facing over the last year.

When we first began this blog, almost a year ago, we did so in response to our feeling that God was calling us to serve Him in Uganda. Since then

we have felt under attack many times.

house flooding

major roof damage

car accidents saw accidents

injuries illness

seizures surgeries

even death… many deaths

We have seen all of this and more in the last 11 months.

Through each of these {challenges} we have tried to see them as God sees them, we've tried to focus on how He can be glorified through these things, we've tried to seek Him first. But sometimes it is so very hard to do. We have to remind ourselves to look to God FIRST, we have to look to His WORD to find wisdom, and we have to spend time with HIM to know His will and direction. The more {challenges} we face, the more we have turned to Him but I have to

admit that sometimes it's not until the hardship has passed. This is when we have one of those "slap yourself in the forehead" kind of moments when we can't believe we tried to do it on our own.

Again.

The dictionary defines a {challenge} as

"a task or situation that tests someone's ability".

These {challenges} have definitely tested our ability. They've tested our ability to look to God for answers instead of ourselves or our peers or our experts. Our ability to let go and give God control of ourselves, of our finances, or our children, our ability to trust Him with everything. Our ability to really truly believe in God's awesome authority.

And we know. We know these {challenges} have been allowed to come upon us so that we can grow, so that we can be sharpened in the fire, so that we can show empathy to those that are going through similar {challenges}. We know that they have a reason and we know He can use them for GOOD because we believe in Him and we are called to His purpose.

As we prepare to leave for Uganda in less than 7 weeks, we do so knowing there will be even more challenges. Only we are now trying to think of them as {opportunities}…to grow, to care for others ,to see God's GLORY.