Bloom where you are planted
Where do I even begin with a blog post - in many ways, 2021 is looking darker than we could have imagined in our pre-Covid world, yet with hope on the horizon in terms of a vaccine and hope in our hearts today because Jesus is still the same. And He will remain the same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the One who holds our worlds and our lives in the palm of His hand.
Over the last few weeks I have felt God impress on my heart really strongly this phrase "Bloom where you are planted". No, being in lockdown yet again is not ideal for an extravert! Spending Christmas on Zoom with my family rather than in person was not the plan. Waking up at 1:15am every morning to teach online at the other side of the world is not really a conventional way to live. Seeing hospitals on the News at breaking point, many businesses and shops going under, a crazy death toll every day etc etc makes my heart break for our nation and the world we are in.
Yet God is still working... Aslan is still on the move... the darker the night, the brighter the light shines.
How do you "Bloom where you are planted"? This will be different for each of us but, personally, for me, here are some practical things that have helped:
Gratitude. Every day I write something in the back of my journal that I am grateful for. After a while of doing this, I noticed that it shifts the perspective of each day..
Journalling Bible. My new favourite thing! I love to be creative, I love God's Word and His presence so this just rolls all of this into one. Highly recommended! See a couple of examples below..
Being outside. Going for a walk or bike ride is just good for the soul, and I am especially blessed to be living by the sea right now. I try to get out every day (and keep within Covid restrictions, of course).
Asking God for encouraging words for others and then sending them a message or just dropping someone a message anyway to say hi when they pop into my mind. I am SO grateful that we live in an age with such amazing technology.
Laughing! Laughing is also really good for the soul - "A joyful heart is good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22). Again, I am blessed to live with an amazing friend where we can laugh over silly things and remember not to take ourselves too seriously.
Pouring into others. Even though I can't meet with my class face to face right now - and I'm just having to trust God for when that can happen - I love spending time with them on Zoom, finding creative ways to teach them, praying with them and seeing them learn and grow.
Thank you for your continued prayer and support. I definitely feel upheld and blessed to have so many people from all over the world journeying with me. Please keep praying for Nepal and that God will make the way for me to get back there soon. And that He will keep me content in Him in the meantime and blooming where I am planted, in Stubbington right now!
With so much love,
Hannah xx
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