The Brilliancy of Joy

1|23|2024 (Wednesday)

Back home it’s winter, and although I’m not feeling the coldness of the negative temperatures affecting so much of the United States, I was feeling the emotions that come with winter.

Despite being on the beach with mostly sunny days and gorgeous climate, I have to admit that life was feeling a bit bleak. I don’t normally allow the changes in the atmosphere to affect me, because almost like a postman I’m faithful to my emotions through rain, sleet, snow and hail. The conditions don’t affect me, although life does.

But the winter of my emotions had a warm front come through today, and seeds of hope began to blossom again. It was the first official day I had went to Beats and Books when the kids (I say kids, but they aren’t much younger than me if I’m being completely honest) or rather students were back.

To be able to start to form relationships through the gift of worship is such a blessing. Being able to see and hear the talent that God has bestowed upon these kids, and their hunger for music brings me such a joy.

After worship, help with homework and games played with new friends, it was time to go home. But although we parted ways, the joy that filled me did not. The joy of the Lord was running through my body at full capacity. Then, just when I thought my day was coming to a close, something happened.

I love music because it’s such a gift directly from God that we can use for His glory to further His kingdom and I’ve loved being able to step more into music during the race.

I’d played guitar a lot today, but I still hungered to practice some new things I’d learned, so I borrowed a guitar from one of my overall wearing squadmates who, suffice it to say, could use a haircut.

It’s certainly hard to find places to be alone when you have 40ish people you live with at a campsite, and on top of that a camp is being held here so there are people everywhere you look.

The Lord told me to sit by a tree with a swing right by the path where people walk and practice. I thought it was kind of weird because I don’t like to bother people with my playing, but I said okay Lord.

I played for a little bit, and then there must have been a break in activities because a flood of teenagers came streaming by the path, glancing over at me while I strummed quietly.

On her way back to the hall, one of the girls sat down on the swing, her eyes bright and her smile wide. We proceed to have a conversation about guitar and how good she thinks I am…that is a controversial topic I’ll just skip right by.

But my point is this, the Lord put me there for a purpose. We were able to pour into each other with the knowledge the Lord has given us about music and the promise to keep in contact and remember to update each other on our musical progress. The Lord is good to show up in the small moments, but that was just the beginning.

After having a few brief conversations with some of the girls, I was actually desperate to go hang out with the teens down at camp, but it wasn’t my assigned ministry so I put all ideas out of my head of going down there so I thought I’d just go to worship.

Well, right before worship one of the boys comes up and asks if, since the girls at the camp greatly outnumber the boys, a couple of us girls from the squad might want to come down and just spend some time with them. I definitely said yes immediately-the Lord does provide a way.

One of my sisters and I go down, catch the end of worship, and then are promptly thrown into a mix of teenagers who aren’t really sure about us-and we feel the same way.

Determined not to have an awkward night, I go up to a boy, who come to find out is around 15. We fumble around introducing ourselves to one another and after finding out each other’s names, the Lord tells me I need to be really intentional with this young man and pray for him throughout our conversation.

For about 20 minutes, we talk about the fact that I am a follower of Jesus and although he goes to a Christian school, he is Islamic but not really committed to any religion. After getting into a deep conversation about the Gospel but ultimately just bumbling through it with me trying to make jokes and him not reallt laughing, he’s saved by someone calling him away to the kitchen.

Ok, pause. One thing about this part of South Africa is that most people I’ve met are either following Jesus and are walking daily with the Lord or have heard about Jesus and the conception they have of Him is badly messed up.

That’s what I noticed tonight. Most people I had a chance to talk to, including the boy, were familiar with Christianity but most were actually strangers to Jesus. Isn’t that sad?

One of the girls though, was literally a light shining for Christ and became our friend fast. We danced, laughed, exchanged each other Instagrams and talked about Jesus. Isn’t that wonderful?

Now, at this point we’d been down there for awhile and my sister decided to go to bed. I wasn’t ready yet and I see the same boy again, sitting down this time. So naturally, I sit down beside him just hoping the most likely short conversation isn’t super painful.

I sit down, and the Lord moved. The Lord wants to break down all our ideals and show us that He will always move, whether or not we listen to Him or not, seeds will be planted!

He apologizes for not acting the nicest earlier and says he accepts the fact that I’m actually a cool person and how he wants to talk to me. We get into an hour long conversation about the Lord, our faith, Noah Kahan, our hopes and dreams and just about everything under the sun. And you know what? I could literally see God working through this young man.

He told several stories about his life being spared, literally miracles manifested by the Holy Spirit alone and from the beginning of the conversation to the end, his perspective changed. Going from how it was pure luck, to how there must be a God protecting him whether he has the sense to believe in him or not, it was wild.

We exchanged phone numbers, and with the promise to keep in contact, I went to bed after one of the most meaningful discussions I’ve had in awhile. Now, it could end here-but it doesn’t.

Update: Today is Thursday. January 25th, 2024. On Wednesday, the boy I talked to starts texting me. At first, it’s just friendly like how was your day and all that good stuff. Then, we get into a deep theological discussion about the Lord and how everything points to a God. We have the wonderful choice to make, do we want a relationship with the loving Creator of the Universe or not? It’s up to us, but we have to decide.

Wow. That was unexpected. I’ve just got a feeling the Lord is going to move deeply in this young man’s life and I would appreciate all your prayers for his heart and life as he continues to find out what life is really all about! The Lord is moving in big ways here in South Africa!

And to finish, I just have one more thing to say. Our joy should be unconditional, despite whether we directly see the Lord working, we can cling to His faithfulness that endures to the end of time and rest securely in knowing that He will lead us to where He wants to work in His perfect timing.

Blessings in Christ,

Gracie Y.