By: Jer
On the last day of Arrow, we get to be commissioned by our leadership partners who have mentored us during the three residentials. One of the things they ask you to do is to ask God for a word to be prayed over you. (Apparently, Arrow is big on this whole one word/phrase idea). Anyways, the word that came to me was Immanuel, which I never would have thought of on my own. As I reflected on this idea of “God with us,” I believe it’s both a promise and an invitation.
It’s a promise because I know in the midst of my own insecurities, He is with me. He has chosen and called me to be His own. I don’t have to be worried about taking on bigger risks and challenges because He is there. I’m sure there will be times when life starts to get really hard and this is the promise I will need to hold on to. Yet, it’s also a larger invitation to realize that God is not just with me, but with us. He is actively present and working in this world. He is for this world and reconciling it to Himself. I am invited to participate and be part of how God is incarnate in this world.
As this Arrow journey slowly comes to a close (one or two more assignments to write), I’m not sure what God has in store for me next. I wish I could say I have these big plans and goals that I’m going to work towards, but I don’t. In some ways, it would be nice to have it all figured out, but that’s really just what I want. If anything, all I have to move forward with are some really simple steps. As much as I might want something “bigger,” all I can do is be faithful to what He has called me to do.
Thanks to all of you for being part of my community during my time at Arrow and as I continue to see what God has in store.