I just left part of my heart in Boston, Massachusetts. My son was recruited earlier this summer to play men's volleyball for another college, and it's up north—approximately seven hours and eleven minutes, depending on traffic, 450 miles to be exact.
It was a tough decision that we prayed about and sat on for a year, but at the beginning of the summer, my son received confirmation that now was the time. He left the comfort of the college he had been in for the last two years—the administration, professors, volleyball program, coaches, teammates, and friends he grew fond of and close to, for a school he didn't know very well in an area he had only been to once several years ago while on vacation. As of today, my son only knows the coach who recruited him and one freshman on the team. He is stepping out in faith, believing this new program will bring him closer to achieving his dreams.
He knew that in order to pursue his goals, he would have to leave the comfort of the known and move on to the uncomfortable unknown. His faith in God and our trust in Him were definitely stretched as a family. To be recruited by top volleyball programs was the easy part. Waiting for God to answer all the requests along the way was the challenge.
My son thought he knew where he wanted to go, but daily texts and weekly conversations with potential coaches and teammates made the decision difficult. My son was toggling on the fence between two great programs and packages. The needle leaned one way one day and then the opposite the next. We prayed as a family and asked intercessors for their prayer support. We participated in the school tours and interviewed coaches and players. After several weeks of contending and highlighting which college best suited my son, God made it obvious which school he would attend. We thought that was the end of our faith trial however it was just the beginning.
From the day he committed to the school in mid-July to a little over a week ago, my son didn't have a place to live. When I talked to the head of Residential Life in late July, my son was #28 on the waitlist. She suggested we look for alternate forms of housing since it wasn't likely he would move up the ranks before school was to start. She didn't say it was impossible, but it wasn't likely. At that point, I agreed with her doubt and grew my own. With the first day of school around the corner, I asked friends if they had any contacts in Boston, specifically near my son's new college. My husband looked at realtor sites to see if rooms were for rent. We were growing desperate as our son remained #28 for weeks. We started to think of plan B. The fear of the unknown was palpable, and our faith was truly tested.
God said in that vulnerable and desperate place, "If you trust me, you won't have a plan B." AHHH! What do you mean? What if my son doesn't have a place to live? Where will he go? God repeated Himself and often. At that moment, I had to release my plans B, C, D, and E. It was a moment of surrender, a moment when I truly let go and let God take control. He reminded me again that He loves my son more than me, and this is part of my son's testimony and journey.
A sweet friend reminded me that if God opened this door for my son, He would not close it. Ironically, my son simultaneously said the same comment. Although my son's faith was growing, mine was stagnating. Some days, I would sit with my questions of uncertainty. And other days, I was confident. We prayed repeatedly as a family, but instead of asking God to answer our prayers, we just thanked God for the many times He already did. We listed the miracles and encouraged ourselves of how God kept His promises. We knew now wasn't the time to waiver in our faith but to grow in it.
We recited verses:
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ~James 1:6 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ~1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Last week on Tuesday, during my morning devotionals, God comforted me with the verse,
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. ~Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
While I was at work, my husband told our sons that afternoon, "Let's pray together. Let's kneel together, humble ourselves before the Lord, and ask for his intervention for our son/brother's residency." My younger son and husband were kneeling, while my older son, who was about to kneel, received an email from Resident Housing stating that he has an apartment four minutes from campus. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
God truly showed up and showed off!
My son is all moved in to his apartment and ready to start his first day of junior year on September 3rd. And his first practice with his new team on September 10th. I share this testimony with you to increase your faith if you're in a situation where you're asking God to show up on your behalf. God is always on time. In our case, He is Ahn Time.
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