A Story From The Mountains

Yesterday, our group of eight StreetLeaders and six adults gathered outside before beginning the long journey home from New Hampshire.

The week exploring the White Mountains was full of incredible beauty, adventure, and a lot of fun. It was also full of challenges. Several in our group got sick. Others faced disappointment, conflict, and emotional and mental challenges that felt overwhelming at times.

During our devotion time yesterday morning, we talked about the idea that God can use not just the beautiful moments in our lives, but the hard ones too. That He wants to teach us and shape us through the difficult things we go through for our good and His glory.

Earlier in the week, one of our mentors shared her story of radical transformation — how God redeemed a life she once thought was beyond redemption.

As I reflected on her story, the stories of our StreetLeaders, and our week together, I found myself returning to one of my favorite passages of Scripture:

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." James 1:2-4 MSG

It's a passage about becoming—the idea that God can use even our trials to shape us into the people He created us to be.

I talked about how I can now truly count some of the most difficult seasons of my life as a gift because of the ways God used them to deepen my relationship with Him and shape me more into His likeness.

Then, we reflected on the week and listened for what God might want to show us as we asked Him three questions:

God, what did I learn about You this week?

What did You teach me about myself this week?

What's something You taught me about someone else this week?

After several minutes of silence, one StreetLeader shared that she learned God can redeem what she's been through and that He has a purpose for her life. She said she never really believed that before. 

She also told us that she had almost decided not to come on the trip because she wasn't sure if UPN was her community, if she was even a good leader, or if the door to talk to God was still open for her. Now she's seen that door crack open and knows she has a place here. She knows she belongs.

Others shared things they had learned about themselves and each other—discovering strengths they didn't know they had and seeing resilience, courage, and joy in one another.

This is the work.

Helping young people find a place where they belong. Helping them see themselves and others as God sees them. And helping them discover that God is present in every part of their story, and that He delights in using even the hardest parts to shape who they are becoming.

This is part of what every gift you've given helps make possible. Thank you for helping create a community where hope can take root. 🌱

With gratitude,

Shawna