October 15th, 2019
When I came to the Snowboarders & Skiers Discipleship Training School (SDTS) in Vancouver, I was looking forward to snowboarding on the local mountains, learning more about Jesus, and getting to know other snowboarders. I wanted to enjoy God’s creation and do what I love, snowboarding. But that’s not what I needed. I needed an answer to the question stirring inside of me. Who am I? I was questioning myself. My insecurities and worries were taking their toll . I knew there had to be more. The only One who could truly answer was God. As I arrived at YWAM Vancouver, He came alongside me and said something like, “Let me show you who I am and you will see who you are!” During the teachings in my SDTS, I kept coming back to that question. Who am I? It wasn't easy to have my identity constantly challenged. There were days where I wrestled with understanding what God wanted to teach me. It amazed me how gentle God was as He approached me and my insecurities. I never heard “I told you so.” Understanding Him helped me be calm and at peace when I failed. I went back to God, apologizing for my mistakes, finding His arms wide open. So many times in my life, I questioned God about who I am. His reply has always been so gentle. He is my Creator. How can I doubt Him? How can I question what the Creator has made? He has such unending love for me. He gave me life and His beautiful creation to enjoy. What an opportunity it is to live in a beautiful world! Getting to serve God, tell people about Him, and snowboard at the same time was amazing. Snowboarding built a bridge with other snowboarders because we shared the same interests. It filled me with so much joy to share Jesus with my new friends. I’m amazed that I was able to do that while being in the outdoors snowboarding. How cool is that?! God met me in my interests and cares about every area of my life. This encouraged me to hold on to Him. Throughout the SDTS, God reminded me of who He created me to be. The Bible says that God created man in His own image. I am an image bearer of God. I can’t explain how happy this made me when I truly understood it! Regardless of everything that I have said and done or that I ever will say and do, I was created in His image. I am His. Nothing will change that. The unchangeable God has created me in His own image and that will never change. I can hold on to this full of joy and peace.
"What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator! Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, 'Stop! You're doing it wrong!'" Isaiah 45:9