 |
|
soakland
Shetal Desai
Shetal is on volunteer staff at Mosaic and attends the Pasadena celebration. She has been co-leading a co-ed small group in Pasadena since September 2008. Shetal also leads a prayer ministry focused on godly marriages and families to bring hope to singles and married couples for God’s healing restoration. |
-------------------------
“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
— Jeremiah 29:11
On a gray, chilly November day a few years ago, I took a little boy that I was mentoring to Universal Studios for his ninth birthday. I was truly excited because this was Dougie’s first time ever at Universal Studios and he was old enough to appreciate the special visual and pyrotechnic effects. When we got to the park, Dougie was so drawn to the first attraction he saw, a water park area called Soakland. Despite my warnings about getting wet on such a cold day, Dougie proceeded to play in the water park and get drenched from head to toe. Although there were many other areas that remained to be explored, Dougie chose to stay fixated on Soakland. At first, the water actually felt warm to him and didn’t seem to bother him but over time, Dougie began to complain about feeling bone-chillingly cold. We decided to backtrack to our car to retrieve the jacket he had left behind so he could at least keep warm for the remainder of our visit. But by the time we got back to the car, Dougie was shivering so badly that he insisted we go home.
I was very disappointed and upset with Dougie since there was so much that I wanted to experience with him that day. Dougie missed out on a truly amazing experience because he failed to look beyond Soakland and trust that I had a better plan for him to spend the day which would have resulted in a more enjoyable experience.
That day God spoke very clearly to me. As I was busy lecturing Dougie for being so short-sighted, God was gently reminding me how many times I, too, refused to trust God in favor of my own Soakland.
For years I struggled with my identity and feelings of being unloved and as a result, I didn’t trust that God would provide in one area of my life — relationships. God had reminded me that I was unhappy in my current dating relationship because I had insisted on going my own way and didn’t seek His counsel. What once felt so good to follow my own wisdom was leaving me cold and exposed with disappointment and sorrow. I suddenly realized I was very much like Dougie. Unless I was willing to give up my Soakland and surrender my idea of what was best for me, God couldn’t show me the wonders of His plan for me and give me something better.
When I finally decided to end my two-year dating relationship, I was devastated and didn’t think I would survive the heartache. I was ashamed to admit to God that He was right and that I had failed. Surprisingly, that’s when I felt God’s loving presence the most. His presence gave me peace, security, and love in such a real way that I had never experienced before. When I was willing to submit to what God wanted for my life, I began to feel an intense love, appreciation and certainty in my identity.
During those dark days of depression and sadness, God impressed upon me that He didn’t intend for my heart to be so broken, but that He had a wonderful plan for me and I just needed to trust Him. I began to hear Him speak to me more clearly when I prayed and asked for direction. Ever since then, I’ve experienced amazing joy from the privilege of partnering with Him through various ministries that I’ve been involved in at Mosaic.
Going through the heartache of a broken relationship has been full of tears, sorrow, and days when getting out of bed seemed impossible. Yet, I have hope. I have learned that in the midst of such turbulence, God met me in my Soakland and lifted me out. He keeps reminding me through a verse from the Bible that He has plans for me, plans to prosper me and give me a hope and a future. I’m still waiting for God to fulfill the desires of my heart. Holding on to His promises are harder on some days than others. But I will continue placing my hope in Him and will wait on Him with hopeful anticipation, knowing His plans for me exceed that of my own.
|
ministries