It’s amazing how God puts all the pieces together as He completes the big puzzle of my life. I may not see the whole picture and understand why things have to happen but God knows how it’s supposed to be.
Storm Winds, Crashing Waves
Last year, I wasn’t even sure as to why God closed all the doors for me in Malaysia. I was sent home to Manila, broken and devastated that I couldn’t stay any longer. It was so hard to let go but it seems that God was directing me to a different path. It felt like the storm winds were leading me to a place of uncertainties that I couldn’t handle the waves crashing towards me.
Stepping Out, Stepping In
Looking back made me realize as to why I had to step out from Malaysia in order to step in further into my destiny. God’s plan could have been limited and unfulfilled if I became stubborn enough to stick to my plans instead of His. But the day I decided to go to Gothenburg, God gave me a word from Genesis 12:
1God told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you.
2-3 I’ll make you a great nation
and bless you.
I’ll make you famous;
you’ll be a blessing.
I’ll bless those who bless you;
those who curse you I’ll curse.
All the families of the Earth
will be blessed through you.”
God made me leave the places I called home in order for me to build His kingdom in a foreign land where He wants me to be a part of. And I believe God will build a Home for me in the city where He has called me as He promised in Jeremiah 29:
5 “Build houses and settle in the land. Plant gardens and eat the food they grow. 6 Get married and have sons and daughters… 7 Also do good things for the city where I sent you as captives. Pray to the Lord for the city where you are living, because if good things happen in the city, good things will happen to you also.”
It’s not always easy to obey and do something out of our comfort zone, to leave something behind that is so dear to us. But sometimes, when God tells us to do something beyond our thoughts, and then we choose to follow Him, great rewards await. God honors our obedience to His call. He is a faithful God and if we choose to be faithful even if we are uncertain, we can be sure that we will be happy and satisfied with the result of our obedience.
As Psalm 128 would say,
Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him.
2 You will enjoy what you work for,
and you will be blessed with good things.
I can testify to what Psalm 128 says as to how God rewards the work we’ve done and that we will be blessed with good things. God can turn our ashes to beauty and sorrow to joy. He made all things beautiful in its own time. Trust His ways and His Timing.
God Knows the Bigger Picture
It all makes sense now as to why God told me to leave my country and why He gave me a dream about Sweden last year. Little did I know that six months after being a part of Connect Church, in which I chose to be planted in Gothenburg, it will become a Hillsong Church. I chose to obey God and follow His directions to go to this city without knowing what is in store for me. And yet again, He has surprised me with an unprecedented turn of events.
Well, this Sunday marks my first day of becoming a part of Hillsong Church! How cool is that?!? I always wanted to go to this church since I was a kid. I look up to Darlene Zchech as a worship leader (this only reveals my age! haha!) I also grew up listening to Hillsong United, attending all their concerts in Manila. And just thinking about how I was in Sydney last year to attend the Hillsong Conference, then now I am part of this church amazes me. It has been a dream for me to be planted in such church where I can grow deeper and learn more about Jesus!
God knows our heart’s desires and He will do whatever it takes to fulfill them as long as we are willing for Him to direct our path no matter how difficult it may be. Again, this is one of the proofs how real God is in my life. He was using the stormwinds and crashing waves to lead me to where I was called to be and what I was made for. I could not have been in a city and church I desired to be part of if I didn’t obey and surrender to God’s direction.
All those closed doors which I thought were storm winds that the enemy’s trying to use against me, were actually God’s wind of directing me to where I am supposed to be. And now, I look forward to what God has in store for me. If He was able to fulfill my heart’s desire, what more can He even do for me? This really excites me!
Listen to God’s Voice
When things don’t make sense in your life and you keep questioning God why you have to surrender or obey Him, learn to trust Him even if you don’t understand. It will all make sense one day and you will be grateful as to what God has done in your life. Remember that He sees the bigger picture than we do. The winds and the waves obey His voice. Learn to also obey His voice so that you can be directed towards your destiny.
Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and follow God despite the opposition. Keep a good fight of faith, trust Jesus in all situation and keep your eyes on the prize waiting on the finish line. God is faithful to fulfill our heart’s desires. Don’t you ever give up on what God has placed in your heart. Guard and protect your dreams. Don’t let the enemy tell you to stop pursuing them.
If I chose to end my life when things were too difficult to handle, I couldn’t have witnessed the glorious turn of events in my life. Don’t let hardships keep you from your destiny. Be strong and let not anything move you. When life feels like a raging sea, picture in your mind what Jesus did in the midst of the storm:
39 Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm. – Mark 4:39
Always trust in God’s ways and remember that He will never leave you in times of turmoil and storm. Instead, Jesus is with you in the boat, calming the raging seas and leading you to your destiny.
Sincerely,
Abby Bern 
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