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Two weeks ago we had the opportunity to take some of our kids to Camp Kulaqua near Gainesville, FL. Things have been going so fast for us over the summer with all the performances we’ve had and the transitions our church is going through that I had barely even given thought to the notion of leaving my wife, my home, and my own bathroom for a week to spend in the woods. In all honesty, I wasn’t that excited about going on the trip…
But I quickly realized that’s because I had forgotten how impactful a week away from family and all that is familiar can be when you’re a teenager. And the fact that I would get to share this time with our kids was truly a privilege.
Romans 8:28-29 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” As the speaker for the weeks spoke about how God uses the bad things in our lives for the good, I realized how perfect this subject was for so many of our youth. Over the next couple of days, our kids experienced a brokenness and transparency like I’ve never seen before. I will be the first to tell you that emotions are never a good measure of what is going on in our spirits, but the tears that were shed from the hurt and pain present in these young peoples lives was testimony to me of God’s Spirit at work. Hearing them share and from that knowing they were drinking up all that was being taught was ministering to my heart as much as theirs.
As I reflected on my own life, I realized how appropriate this subject is for all of God’s children. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us,” says Romans 8:18. We can rejoice in the pain and suffering of life because we know God is at work redeeming us.
You can count me now a believer in camp…getting away to find home.
