I don’t know how long you have been following Steph’s and my blog but two years ago I wrote a blog called “What do you do when God says no”. I wrote that blog at one of the lowest points of my life. I honestly don’t know how I got through that situation without God. For four months after, I wrote that blog I was a bomb ready to burst into tears at any second. Life was hard and I just held on to my little faith believing that Jesus is a good God; he is faithful to those who love him! Even when I couldn’t feel his presence, favor, or faithfulness I held on to His Word! I remembered life was so hard that the only time I felt peace was when I worshiped him in song. Several times, when I would tell God “I can’t do it, you just want me to suffer God” The next moment he would send a disciple to encourage me and remind me that our God is a faithful God!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”- James 1:2-4
For most people those three verses are not comforting during a trail but honestly its soooo true! My hurricane/trial taught me how to pray, brought me to a point that only Jesus can satisfy me, brought me to a point where I only want to follow God’s lead and not myself.
A year later, Januray 2011, I found myself once again crying and broken in God’s presence. Life once again wasn’t going the way I believed it should go. I was so broken and hurt that God would put me through another trial/hurricane again! Yet, it once again tested my faith and produced perseverance. The Lord had to bring me to my knees so I can fully submit my hopes and dreams.
As I submitted my hopes and dreams to the Lord, he didn’t take my dreams and throw them in the garbage like I was afraid he would. Instead, he quadrupled my passions for global health and gave me directions. He opened doors for me to travel to Haiti on a service trip, to travel to DC to attend a Global Health conference where many prominent people in the global health world like the Minister of Health for Liberia. He has given me the opportunity to be a part of UNICEF Campus Initiative National Council which consists of six members that represents the whole United States. These doors were not open because Faith Umoh had the G.P.A, the funds, or the qualification. In fact I had none of it but only faith in Jesus that if this was his will he would open the door!
In the midst of all these great opportunity, he has shown me that I did not go to these places just for my passion of global health but instead for His glory! Wherever we are there we find our mission/ministry that God has given us to proclaim who he is! He has given me opportunity to share my testimony, the Gospel and exemplify what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ in each setting! Glory to God!
I look back at 2009 to 2011 and even though I know there was sooooooooo much crying, I would not ask God to change it! The brokenness took away the pride and replaced it with humility; which affirmed to me that what I do is not because of myself or for myself, but it is for the Glory of God!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”- Jeremiah 29:11
-Faith
This definitely encouraged me. I read the previous post and I too felt the same way my first two years at UF and it really has made me a better believer as I look back. I'm definitely learning how to walk by faith and not by sight through each experience and it really has opened doors.
Faith you are awesome. Thanks for sharing :)
-Breanna
(thinkroyalty.wordpress.com)