Faithful in EVERY season!

We have now been in Sydney for almost three and a half weeks! It has been a whirlwind of activity and I am so looking forward to being settled into our new apartment…we’re almost there! Amongst the craziness though, I have had moments of reflection and I have just felt so overwhelmed by the faithfulness of God, so much so that I wanted to share some thoughts with you!


I was thinking back to 3 years ago when we first moved to Brisbane and the intense homesickness I felt, it was such a huge challenge to manage those feelings whilst trying to get to know people, leading a team of Youth leaders, running a Youth and Young adults ministry…it can only be by the grace of God (and the people!) that we made it through that season, thank God that the ache lessens as time goes by!

In my last blog I talked about those dark moments; when you’re wondering where on earth you are, if you’ve just made the worst decision of your life, what you did to deserve this, how they could treat you like that, how you’re going to get out of this mess and on and on the thoughts go, flying through our minds at lightening speed! It feels like a deep black hole that you can’t get out of and it feels like nobody else could possibly understand. In fact, I remember times when friends were trying to be positive and tell me it was all going to be OK and I just didn’t want to hear it! Just a little thought that I’ve been trying to work on…sometimes it’s better to just listen, give a hug and say ‘yep it sucks’, at least until the pain eases a little and you can help them through with some words of wisdom…

When I first started out as a youth leader, around 19 years of age, my Youth Pastor at the time gave me a verse that he said he felt would characterize my life. The verse is still one of my favourites today and certainly has been one that I’ve held on to…

Joshua 1:9
This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged! For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

What a powerful thought! Not to mention a powerful command! God actually commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous! God knew what was ahead for Joshua, He knew there would be numerous battles that he would need to face and so He commanded him to be strong through it all, why? Because the Lord your God IS with you WHEREVER you go! A powerful command, yet what an AMAZING promise!

I want to encourage you today in whatever season you are in, to be strong and courageous, it’s much easier said than done that’s for sure, there were (and still are!) countless times where I was not strong or courageous but God knows all of that too! It doesn’t mean that we have to fake it, in fact He’s not telling us to be strong and courageous in our own strength or abilities, He’s commanding us to be strong and courageous in the knowledge that He is with us! Whatever you’re going through right now, whatever comes your way next week or next month or next year, always remember that the Lord your God IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO! Amazing!

I am so, so blessed and completely overwhelmed to look back and see the many lives that were impacted in our youth as it tripled in just 2 years, in our Church as I had the honour of preaching His word and leading people into His presence through worship, not to mention how much my life has been impacted by the amazing relationships we’ve made and the growth I’ve gained through the experience and lessons of it all! God is SO good, and even (actually I think ESPECIALLY!) in those dark times, He is absolutely there and He uses it all, to grow us, to mold us, to stretch our capacity, to show us how faithful He is and to ultimately bring glory to His name!

I pray that you would keep walking, keep fighting the fight of faith and know that wherever you go, whatever season you’re in, no matter how dark or bleak or scary or wonderful it is…He is right there with you and you will look back on amazing work that God has done in you and through you!

So my friend, remember, in Him, to be strong and courageous!

PS The view from our balcony in Brisbane had a palm tree and I used to love sitting watching the sunsets behind it, I felt sad when we left that it wouldn’t be my view anymore… The picture above is the view from our Sydney apartment…multiple palm trees! God is SO faithful!