Abide
Summer is officially here! In a few days I head back to Camp Carl for a summer designed to be Christ-centered, relationally focused, and incredibly fun for both the campers who will come this summer and us as staffers. It’s crazy to think that I’m here already!
One evening toward the end of this past semester as I walked back onto campus from church, I was drawn to the outdoor patio by the sound of singing. Voices upon voices drew me in, and I joined the crowd just in time for the song Abide. Going into the summer, the words of that song were exactly what I needed to hear. I truly depend on God for everything, and I think this summer will prove just how true that is.
In a biblical sense, to abide is to endure and continue in the Christian life, holding onto God through his Word, prayer, and his love, while resting in the fact that he is holding onto you (John 15:1-11). How does one abide when in the middle of doing ministry? How do we serve God while still resting in him? We as Christians need to be far more dependent on the Lord than we are. There are times when the Christian life seems easy enough to get by on our own, but trials and seasons of intense ministry reveal just how weak we actually are. Actively depending looks like soaking ourselves in scripture and approaching it with an attitude of readiness to learn. It looks like going to the Lord with everything— even the small things— in prayer. It also looks like humbling ourselves and going to other Christians with our weaknesses and need for wisdom.
If I’m being honest, I was hesitant to apply to work a full summer at camp. At the beginning of the spring semester, our college had a missions conference. In every chapel the speakers reminded me in different ways that this life is short and I must be intentional to use it for God’s glory. Of all the different summer jobs I’d looked into, this was the one that gave the most opportunity to live on mission. Through various closed doors for other jobs, a conversation with one of the full-time staff at camp, and the ongoing thought that this would be the most plausible way to use this summer with eternity in mind, God made it clear that this was the choice that made most sense.
It was a kind providence as well that some of my closest friends decided to work at camp as well. Most of us made that decision separate from each other, but it’s an unexpected blessing that makes me so excited to see how the summer bonds and grows us all!
Going into this summer of working as a camp counselor is daunting. Leading a cabin, connecting with campers, and trying to share the gospel with them is a huge responsibility. There are many ways I feel insufficient for this, and I know that there will be difficult moments this summer. But God never promised us ease in the Christian life. In fact, this summer is a chance for him to leverage my strengths but also make his power more evident through my weakness! 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 gives me hope. After explaining how he pled with the Lord to remove his weakness, Paul shows us God’s response: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” I would be lying if I said I wasn’t apprehensive, but I’m also excited to see how God’s power shines through my weaknesses this summer.
Prayer requests:
Although I haven’t narrowed prayer requests down to specifics yet, I have a few general requests for the summer as a whole.
Learning to depend more fully on God’s strength in my weakness
Growth in selflessness as I work to serve my campers and coworkers
Many gospel conversations and opportunities to lead campers to Christ
Living with eternity in mind and focusing on the things that matter even when I’m tempted toward selfishness throughout the summer
I would so appreciate it if you’d commit to praying for me and for the work the Lord does at Camp Carl this summer!
If you’d like to receive regular updates on my adventures at camp this summer, sign up for my email list! My hope is to encourage you by sharing prayer requests, what the Lord is teaching me, and how he is working at camp while telling a few of the fun stories along the way.
