SENT Journal

SENT Journal

Day 1 | I Think God Picked This Team

Today was the day.

We met at the church around 9:30 this morning, and I still have no idea how fourteen people fit everything they need for an entire week into one church van. Before the trip, I kept reminding everyone to pack light. Of course, I heard every reason why that wasn’t going to happen.

“But I need this.”

“What if I need that?”

Somehow, they actually pulled it off. One backpack-sized bag, one sleeping bag, and one pillow. After stuffing bags under seats, filling every little space we could find, and convincing ourselves there really was room for one more thing, we finally pulled out of the parking lot.

Somewhere along the drive today, I found myself just looking around the van.

I wasn’t really thinking about anything in particular. Everyone was just being themselves. Some were talking. Some were laughing. Some had music playing through their headphones. A couple conversations started between students who really didn’t know each other very well before today.

And then a thought came back that I haven’t been able to shake.

“I think God picked this team.”

I remember saying that to Sandy before I left this morning. At the time, I couldn’t really explain why I said it. Honestly, I still can’t. It was just one of those thoughts that settled into my heart and has stayed there all day.

As I looked around, I realized every one of these students has a completely different story. Different families. Different personalities. Different gifts. Different experiences. Different reasons for saying yes to this trip.

Yet here we are.

Fourteen people whose paths all crossed for one week.

It made me wonder how many times God does that without us even realizing it.

Have you ever thought about the people God has brought into your life?

Maybe it’s someone you work with every day. Maybe it’s a friend you almost never met. Maybe it’s your spouse. Maybe it’s the people sitting around you every Sunday at church.

Every one of those people has a story that is completely different from yours. Different victories. Different hurts. Different prayers. Different roads that somehow led to the same place as yours.

I don’t think about that nearly enough.

When Jesus called His disciples, He didn’t just invite people to follow Him. He brought together people who probably never would have spent time together otherwise. Over time, they became more than a group. They became family.

I don’t know exactly what God has planned for this week. Maybe some lifelong friendships will begin. Maybe someone will finally ask the question they’ve been carrying around for months. Maybe one conversation will change the direction of someone’s life.

Or maybe God has something He wants to teach me.

I really don’t know.

But I do know this.

I don’t believe any of us are here by accident.

So tonight, that’s my prayer.

I’m praying that somewhere over the next few days, every one of us begins to understand a little more clearly why God brought us here.

And years from now, when this week is just a memory, I hope we’ll all be able to look back and smile because we’ll finally see what today couldn’t yet show us.

After all…

Today was only Day 1.