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Is it time yet, Lord?
- naomilasella
- Jul 13, 2024
- 4 min read
There are often seasons of waiting in the Christian life. It can be uncomfortable, discouraging, and we can start to lose hope. We might not understand what God is doing in the moment. But later, we look back and realise God was doing a beautiful growth and work in us all along, and that the waiting season built crucial foundations in our life that were needed for what God had ahead.
This has definitely been my story, and I’d love to share a bit of my journey over the last few years and how God lead me back into Christian missions this year!
Home life!
After finishing my Bible School in 2019, I knew God was calling me to go back to serve with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in New Zealand. I assumed it would be straight away, but little did I know it would take another 4.5 years before I’d return.
After my initial plan to head back in 2020 fell through, I decided I’d get a job and trusted God would show me the time to go back to NZ. Over the years, I got involved in an incredible local church, began working full time in the optical industry and completed a year-long internship with my church.
I loved serving in church and sharing the love of Jesus with those I met every day at work. I was learning a lot and making the most of life at home, yet the desire for New Zealand still remained strong in my heart.
Is this the year Lord…?
I prayed every year if this was the year to go back, and each time I felt God saying not yet. It was hard to surrender my longing for New Zealand and Missions to God and trust His timing. I didn’t understand why it was taking so long and felt disappointment, yet God was close and faithful throughout it and continued to reassure my heart that He knew what He was doing. So I asked God for joy and His heart for where He had me, and continued on serving, working, and growing in Jesus.
"He reassured my heart that He knew what He was doing.."
At the end of last year, I began to have the feeling that a season was coming to an end. I didn’t know what that meant at first and had started considering different plans. But as I sat in my room earlier this year and asked God what this meant, He showed me with such clarity that now was the year to go back to New Zealand and serve again with YWAM.
Wow! Now was the year! I remember sitting in my room being so shocked that God had really just said to go back to New Zealand. All those years of waiting, longing, and choosing to trust God when He kept saying not yet. The time had now come! I felt God clearly show me to do a leader's internship with YWAM Furnace NZ which would begin in 2 months’ time.
He was doing a good work all along!
As I look back over the years, as much as I longed to be in New Zealand, I am so grateful God kept me home for the last few years. Being at home gave me the chance to connect with my local church and embrace being on mission together in our 'own backyards'. I learned what it looks like to be a light for Jesus in my workplace, and gained useful admin and reception skills that I'll be using now in missions. (More on that later hehe) The friendships formed and time with family is something I'm so grateful for too.
I see now that God was working on areas of my heart to prepare me for what He'd call me into next. If I had gone any earlier, I wouldn't have the life lessons or practical skills I have now. So I can look back and wholeheartedly say His timing really was perfect!
What's your story?
Maybe you’ve been waiting on something yourself and feeling discouraged in the waiting. I hope this has encouraged you to trust God’s timing and goodness in how He leads. It may not always make sense in the moment, but you can rest assured He really does have your best interest at heart and is moving in ways that you need. As you wait, trust in God and let Him strengthen your heart. He really does know what He is doing!
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
-Isaiah 40:31
I'll be posting a few more updates sharing what I got up to during the Leader's Internship course and what I'm stepping into now as I serve with YWAM Furnace NZ long term!
More to come, but for now, Aroha Nui!
('Much love' in Te Reo - The Indigenous language of NZ)
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