My Brother, My Sister, Do Not Despair

I sat in the darkened office alone amidst the silent cacophony of my thoughts. And they were for you. Nearly two months have passed since we, united with fervor for the cause of Christ, set off to the far reaches of the globe from Troy. The grand blaze that we spent months nourishing and tending was dispersed to start fires elsewhere. For three and a half months we dreaded the anticipated departure. For three and a half months the devil concocted his wildest schemes to snuff out the fire of our faith. Over these weeks and weeks following our consecration and commissioning we have seen those wiles, and on different levels, we have all succumb to some of them.

Now, I say, let us lay aside ever weight that may slow us down. Let us renew our vows to the Savior who loved us to death. Dear brother, dear sister, I know there is someone who needs to hear these words. You thought you would have done better than this after ARISE. I do. Your foresight has proven to be human. Mine does. You chose not to share your deepest struggles for any number of insufficient reasons. I do. You feel the struggles that all of our class faces and don't know what to do. I do.

My beloved, do not despair. Let your knees find the floor; let your eyes find the tears you hide inside; let your voice cry out with unfeigned fervor to the God our salvation...the God who parted the Red Sea in Troy...the God who didn't let our shoes wear out in Sterling Heights...OUR GOD. He is the same.

Do not despair in the lies of the enemy. We have fallen before; our God still bids us rise. Pour yourself at the Savior's feet. Cast every care upon him. All of heaven is waiting to spring into action. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. It comes from THE ONLY ONE who is ABLE to keep YOU from falling and to present you FAULTLESS before the presence of HIS glory...with so much joy.

Today, exhausted, I felt to my face on the floor in to office and cried to the God of my Salvation. And He heard from heaven. And He answered.

He is strong to deliver. He is mighty to save.