I got my covid test result on August 17th, and I was excited to announce my results, but I felt God telling me to wait. On the 18th, I understood why God wanted me to wait to announce this… there was more He wanted me to testify to.
August 16th, my team and I, as we waited for my results, were heartbroken by the news on the Afghanistan crisis. God brought sweet perspective on suffering and trials. We prayed and interceded for the Afghan people. We weeped, and we realized how purposeful our time here in South Africa has been. Our quarantine time had been plentiful.
August 17th: the great news?
My results were sent to me on WhatsApp at 6:42 AM as: NEGATIVE.
We all gave a big “woo-hoo”!!!!!! I danced before and after my shower, listening to Vale La Pena by Juan Luis Guerra and celebrated this victory.
We walked around town as some of us road on horses, we saw many dogs and laughed hysterically at how one mightily yet faintly barked at us because it was old. I surprisingly road on a horse, and then we walked to different shops…
A sweet victory; seeing God redeem me in this covid experience, and just seeing James 1:2-4 being lived out once again. Resting assured again that we’ve always had the victory regardless of the outcome.
August 18th: finding out not so great news?
Before even starting our day, our daily host expressed that they were showing covid symptoms. This was to potentially affect us from leaving to our next ministry. Emotions became heightened, and it felt like confusion had stormed in uninvitedly. Had we savored a victory to then be blindsided and defeated? The devil had been attacking us.
What the devil meant for evil, God meant for our good (Genesis 50:20).
We spent around 5 hours worshipping, conversing and praying, in which Holy Spirit led us to pray healing over our daily host, where we prayed for the overflow of His spirit over us… and wow, it was most sweetest encounter with God.
One of us expressed how we could perceive how angry and frightened the devil was, and later one of us expressed seeing the devil was sticking his tongue out at us IN DEFEAT.
2 Corinthians 10:4 for our weapons of our warfare are not of flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of strongholds.
Hahaha, guys… this is why God wanted me to wait.
As this day was cloudy, we saw how the sun was shinning through and came out, how the light was overpowering the darkness, and God led us to move our praise outside. The Son was present. What the devil meant for evil, God meant for our good, and so we PRAISED AND PRAYED AND PRAISED AND DANCED AND PRAYED AND PRAISED AGAIN.
This not so great news was not a defeat, but only taking part in the victory that we’ve always possess, and that cannot be taken.
Wow, the victory wasn’t just the negative covid result. Victory is life with Jesus; in getting hit with one thing after another, we will not be shaken.
This is the God I serve. This is the upside down Kingdom I’m from, where we dance and celebrate when humanly speaking, we should weep in sorrow and pout in defeat and hopelessness.
Guys, this is the God I serve…
Until next time,
J
Weeping and rejoicing with you! I love reading your stories – I am so encouraged by you!