I’ve been here at AIM less than 24 hours and the Lord has already taught me a great deal about dependence on Him. Today during our morning session, one of the speakers talked about the importance of our “yes”. We’re always giving our ‘yes’ to something, it’s our choice whether it’s to God or something else. She also asked a convicting question- something to the effect of “when you signed up for this trip, was your ‘yes’ entirely to God or was part of it to the travel, excitement and community?” I realized that not all of my ‘yes’ was to God, it was initially to some of those other things. The Lord quickly revealed His grace to me despite the fact that my ‘yes’ was not entirely on the table for Him.

Yesterday, when setting up my tent, 2 of my squadmates helped me. When it came time to pray with our parents after evening worship, one of my squadmates’ parents prayed over me since my mom couldn’t be here. I’ve had to rely on the Lord for my peace at night when I went to sleep and depend on Him even when I have doubts about why I am here. He has taught me that it is okay to ask for help, to be vulnerable, and to rely on the community in which He has placed me.

I’m a pretty independent and stubborn individual and the Lord has already stretched my dependence on Him. I look forward to how He continues to stretch my ‘yes’ and my obedience over these next 9 months because I know I will not be able to do it without Him.