I knew this journey would be a challenge – I just didn’t know how challenging. While I won’t say walking 22 miles in 95+ degrees to Davis or pushing a 60+ pound cart up nearly vertical hills in Berkeley is not challenging, those are nothing compared to the spiritual challenges this journey has presented.

I had no idea how hard it would be to give up all the comforts of “normal life.” I miss knowing when my next shower will come, where I will sleep at night, what food I will eat throughout the day, where the next bathroom will be or when we will be able to refill our water. I miss jumping in my car and driving to the store whenever we need anything.  I miss having constant access to internet – and constant access to my mom. I miss the security of knowing paychecks will be deposited regularly into our bank account. I miss friends and family.

With California nearly ½ way behind us and Nevada and Utah staring us in the face, I find myself looking at one of my favorite passages of scripture in a whole new way. Hosea 2:14-20 talks about God stripping Israel of her distractions, taking her into the wilderness and wooing her. He wants her to realize his love for her – his desire and ability to love and care for her better than any of her current idols. Is this what God is doing in me right now – stripping me of the comforts of life in America and teaching me to walk by faith, trusting that He can and will provide for me?

Jesus is my heart’s deepest love and yet so often, I act as if I don’t really need Him. Scripture says everything belongs to God – we are just stewards of what he ultimately owns. Even the comforts of life in a country like America do not belong to us. Everything we have is from God.

I want to learn to appreciate everything He has given me – to be a good steward of those gifts. And while I learn that, I want to learn to walk by faith, trusting that God really will provide for us – to give us this day our daily bread.

-linds

Photo by brendahallowes.