These past 3 weeks have been very difficult for me.  This past weekend was the last weekend for my youth pastor.  I won’t go into details to why my youth pastor is leaving.  I found out that something was wrong 3 weeks ago, the weekend I came back from Thailand.  Lucky for me, I’ve had 3 weeks to soak everything in.  I went through the entire process of anger, grief, denial, and finally, acceptance.  I’ve been in the youth group for 9 years and this pastor was my 8th youth pastor.  Every time a pastor left, it made it harder for me and everyone else to trust the next one that comes by.  On Friday, we had a combined service with another church.  During worship, I couldn’t stop crying because I knew that hearts were broken.  Even though I was constantly reminded of how faithful God is, I know that my brothers and sisters have forgotten who their God is.  My heart breaks because I know that my brothers and sisters have lost hope that their God is faithful and that He will provide.  Some have even been tempted to give up on the youth group due to what happened.  Lately, I’ve been praying and fasting for a breakthrough for my brothers and sisters.  I’ve come to the conclusion that if this is what it takes for God to break down hearts, mend them, and grow them to be men and women for Christ, then let it be.  

My dear brothers and sisters, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” -Hebrews 10:23:25

God is good and he is faithful. Please don’t ever lose sight of that.