Psalm 34

"I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness; let us exalt His name together. I prayed to the LORD, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; He saved me from all my troubles. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the LORD, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need." -Psalm 34:1-9

This passage was my heart's prayer for the time I spent in Namibia and even the time spent back home since I've returned. "Taste and see..." An invitation to the highest joy and satisfaction. I don't know about anyone else, but discontentment and I tend to spend a lot of time together. I have been known to seek it out and spend a lot of energy hanging out there. The conviction this passage brought me through the Word itself and the truth it presented in the lives of the Namibians I interacted with and my own American team was so very clear. "...for those who fear Him will have all they need." Such a sweet promise. The Lord has given me and will continue to give me all I need. Having come home to more struggles and trials and fears than I know what to do with, this passage fills me with the overwhelming peace we're promised in God's Word. My heart and my prayer would be that through all things, Christ would be lifted high. Through all things, I would be content and satisfied with the Lord. Through all things, I would be an encouragement to others and an example of the Lord giving overflowing peace and joy in times of pain and heartache. I miss Namibia. I miss the people. I miss my team. I can't begin to express (although at this point with the number of times I've mentioned this I'm beating a dead horse) the different ways the Lord has and is using them in my life. Taking 12 strangers and turning them into the closest friends. There is no other explanation than Christ Himself, that we could all come together and love each other the way Christ designed us to love. Incredible. The Lord has used them in great ways in my life to challenge and encourage me. What an incredible display of the Lord's soveriegnty... putting 12 sinful people together and creating a brotherly love between each of them.