Prayer Letter 10

Dear pray-ers,

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This month I return to a verse that has meant a great deal to me since my GAP year, 5 years ago. Proverbs 16:9 “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” The implications of this truth are incredible. And, over the last 4 months I have found that God is in control when I’m not; he still wants to guide when I’m reluctant to be led; he remains faithful when I’m only fit for failure; and he always sets the trajectory of our life’s journey even when we’re staring hopelessly at our sluggish feet. As we reminded ourselves in the Christian Union at St Andrews – whatever happens, Jesus is LORD!
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On the back of that introduction, there is finally GOOD NEWS on the visa front. As of yesterday, I have an interview date at the London embassy for my student visa (2pm on Wednesday 13th May). Phew, it has been a long time coming, but as you can imagine I am truly relieved and thankful to reach this stage of the process. The interview is scheduled and whatever happens now remains, as always, in God’s hands – and who’s better!
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Once I have been interviewed, it will be another week until I receive my visa-ed passport back in the post – only then will I know whether I’ve been granted entry to the States for the duration of my training. After getting my passport back it is only a matter of buying flights until I return to Nashville. If everything works out, come June I will be starting a 2 year MA Theology degree program at Memphis Theological Seminary (this is a different institution to the one I was attending last year). I’ve been in email contact with the university, with Mack Strange (Pastor of Trinity Church in Spring Hill) and Deech Kirk (the CYMT director) and they are very pleased to have their prayers answered. I’m very grateful for all the time and effort they have both invested to get me to this point.
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But still, there is much to pray for. Please give all praise to God for his faithfulness, thank him for hearing and answering your prayers. Thank him for giving peace to me at this time, and for the direction and opportunities he has put in my path while I’ve been at home. However, I have to admit to feeling a little anxious about the next few weeks, especially as I could be in Tennessee in as little as 5 or 6 weeks. The uncertainty of this process has been hard but since being home (for the longest time since leaving secondary school); I believe that it will be more difficult to leave this time than before. I’ve got closer to family and to the people I worship with at Pettigo Methodist. Please pray for God to make his purposes clear to me and that I will have the strength to trust him more as he leads me through this next stage of my life. Thank-you again for all your support.
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Yours in Christ,
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Emma

O uncertainty where is your victory?

I think that it’s only human to go through periods of frustration, uncertainty and anxiety. And, most of us will admit to a spot of impatience at such times. We all react in different ways – some bottle up their feelings and trudge on despite their unhappiness, others will make sure that everyone knows what a hard time they’re going through. I think I go through both of those on a daily basis.
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I guess I’m experiencing some uncertainty at the moment. Having recently graduated, my thoughts turned to the future (which for a student is the next 12 months - little steps at a time). As a Christian I believe that God is in control; that He has a master plan, even though I can’t see how it’s all going to end up.
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But how easy is it really to take hope from that truth when you’re in the midst of frustration and things aren’t working out the way that you’d planned. I know that when I wasn’t able to return to study and work in America after Christmas God’s purpose was the last think I could see. And yet, this isn’t a new story. Just imagine the hopelessness that those who loved Jesus would have felt during the final week of his life leading up to his crucifixion.
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I worry about God’s plan for my life, about the next step along the way, where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing. And I rarely react towards the uncertainty in a Christian-like manner – it generally involves lashing out at those who are nearest. But, the Bible is full of people who were quick-tempered and disappointed; many wrote psalms, others prayed to God about their heartache and anger and our hymn books are full of writers inspired by life’s ups and downs.
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The American hymn writer Adelaide Pollard, lived at the turn of the century and believed that God wanted her in Africa as a missionary. However, she couldn’t raise the funds needs to go. In an uncertain state of mind, she attended a prayer meeting where she heard an elderly women pray. “It’s all right, Lord. It doesn’t matter what you bring into our lives, just have your own way with us.” At home that night, much encouraged, she wrote "Have thine own way with me" based on Isaiah 64.
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Verse 4 says that, “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Verse 8 reminds us that, “O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Adelaide Pollard had to be reminded, and often so do we – and what better time than at Easter – that God is alive and at work in our lives and in the world today. Whatever the situation we find ourselves, whether joblessness, bereavement, ill-health or uncertainty God desires to have his way with us. Remind with Him and He will remain with us.