Gripped with fear and overwhelmed with uncertainty… I stood at the end of this very dock and yelled…

And as I yelled words I knew I should say, but wasn’t sure I actually believed, I slowly began to feel a sense of calm and peace wash over me. Uncertainty turned into trust. Fear turned into faith. And I DID believe the words I said… the words I yelled.

I stretched my arms out wide, looked toward the gloomy fall sky, and through tear soaked and swollen eyes, I yelled, “I TRUST YOU!!! You ARE God.”

“We will do whatever you want us to do. We will go wherever you want us to go. We TRUST you. Lead us Lord. We trust you… we trust you… we trust you…”

The words faded into the vast scene before me, and I knew we were cared for and loved and there was a plan for us… a great one… even in this valley of darkness.

That was the last time we came to this place solely for the purpose of a family getaway–this cabin, this beautiful place–for a getaway (more like running) from reality, but one much darker and more uncertain than anything we could have imagined.

That was almost 4 years ago.

This weekend we went to the cabin again solely for the purpose of a family getaway–just to be, to relax, to connect with new friends. And as I watched my family play on that very same dock, I couldn’t help but reflect on the time before and the significance of that time in our life–a true turning point you could say.

And in that turning point… God definitely delivered. As we distinctly prayed for doors to be open and doors to be slammed shut (leaving NO DOUBT in where He was guiding us), He took us places we never imagined we’d go–assuming roles I never imagined I would assume–and creating an environment of total dependence on Him and His plan.

And through it, we grew–not just by an additional member of our family, but also our souls, our strength, our perseverance, our courage, and our faith. We also grew together.

Sooooo much has happened in such a short amount of time. Our story, our journey, is ever evolving. The devil still prowls in the darkness. The darkness still fights to dampen the Light. BUT… we know we are cared for. We know we are loved. We know the battle for us has already been won.

We still pray for doors to be open or distinctly slammed shut. I still yell out, “I trust you. I trust you. I trust you…” And now we also pray that our story, our journey, will continue to be used for His glory–inspiring and empowering others to live out their purpose-filled life… however, wherever He chooses to do so.

And in precious moments like this, we simply look back to appreciate and acknowledge how far we have come. And together we walk in faith… We are courageous. We are conquerors. We are one.