hi friend!
happy 2021! we’ve made it! I hope that you’re holidays have been sweet & your time with family & friends wasn’t taken for granted. Cheers to the new year!
Here’s a few updates about what my squad has been up to:
Last Wednesday night my we were preparing to launch to Guatemala. We were packing up our last few items, making phone calls to our families to say see you later, and getting our negative covid tests back. The anticipation was so great I could feel it in the air. Then unexpectedly, we found out that one of our friends tested positive.
That means another week here in quarantine. Another “letdown”. Another “this isn’t what it’s supposed to be like”. Another “this isn’t what I signed up for”. Here I am again, in the unplanned & the unknowing wait.
Then this morning I was reading in Lamentations (a surprisingly good book) and chapter 4 verse 2 really spoke to my heart:
“how precious children of Zion,
once worth their weight in gold,
are now considered pots of clay,
the work of a potters hands” (NIV)
And suddenly my perspective was changed. How precious is it that i’m not entitled nor committed to adventure days or travel or Guatemala. My worth is not found in whether or not I go to these places or do these things. My worth is not found in the gold & treasures of this world. My value is no longer “that fun missionary that gets to go places & do stuff”.
No, my value is “that jar of clay that the Lord cares for & is molding into something eternal and glorifying”. I’m slowly realizing just how much value the Lord adds to my life when i’m in seasons of questioning and shortcomings. For it is in the hard seasons that character is built and seen.
When I finished reading I wrote these words in my journal as an offering to the Lord; some clay for my Potter:
“I would trade a hundred travel days & adventures & Guatemala’s for one chance to be forever changed by the Lord.”
The faithfulness, refinement, goodness, patience and grace that I have been marked with in this season of waiting will stand for eternity, because the One who gave them to me is eternal. How sweet is it that the same Potter who is forming me, formed mountains & valleys & skies & every beautiful thing.
So in this season of waiting, I will continuously be offering my clay to the Potter. I’m here to be whatever He wants me to be. An offering, a vessel, a friend, a sister, a dreamer, a student, a teacher, a servant. Whatever. I’m all in. The Potter is good, surely His creation will be too.
Please continue to pray for my squad & our covid tests to come back negative. And please pray that we recognize the faithfulness of God wherever we are, in whoever we meet.
Feel free to reach out to me anytime!
Lots of love,
-M
Wow Marissa! Everything you mentioned is so well said. It’s a powerful thing to be “all in”…..that kind of clay is something the Potter can use! Praying always.
“I would trade a hundred travel days & adventures & Guatemala’s for one chance to be forever changed by the Lord.”
AMEN!! girl, THIS IS IT. this is what it’s all about. i know i don’t know you, but i am proud of you. seeking Him in disappointing situations is not easy. i see Jesus’ humility in you.
i am praying for y’all and the tests and y’all’s hearts!!
WOAH MARISSA! yes yes yes!! love this. filled with so much truth. grateful for a friend with such a great perspective and powerful voice for the kingdom!
“I would trade a hundred travel days & adventures & Guatemala’s for one chance to be forever changed by the Lord.”
Love love love this and you!!
Hey Marissa Colleen and I are so excited to know the team is finally in Guatemala! Love your attitude and words, “I would trade a hundred travel days & adventures & Guatemala’s for one chance to be forever changed by the Lord.” What an amazing way and proper perspective in how one ought to live in this world! Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to hear the stories of awesome experiences God has for all of you! Continue to allow God to mold you in the likeness of His Son, Jesus! May we all be forever changed! – Proud of you!