Everything

     On Easter Sunday my team and I had the opportunity to perform a skit in front of the congregation at the church in which we’re serving. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of the “everything skit” before, but if not I encourage you check it out because it is really powerful and moving! I’ve attached a video of my team and I (plus our Squad Leader Kaitlin) performing it below, and there are many other versions you can find on YouTube as well. 

     The skit starts with God breathing life into a girl and it just being the two of them. He makes her heart to beat, brings movement and fluidity into her arms, and begins pursuing her by such creations as an apple tree and creating a bouquet of flowers just for her. Life is good and oh so sweet with just she and God in the picture. 

     Cue sin. She is introduced to the sin that comes with “everything” the world sends her way that she can choose to either turn away from or partake in. Drinking, greed and love of money, gossip, body image and an eating disorder, self harm and even suicide contemplation are the sins which tempt and beat her down. I don’t want to give away the whole thing or the ending, so you’ll just have to go watch it. 

     I will say though, watching this skit and being in this skit were two completely different ball games. I’ve seen it many times before and always got chills, but never truly understood the depth and passion until I was the girl. And I don’t mean “I was the girl” in the sense of the skit. I was, but I’m saying that in life I was literally that girl. When I was hurting and wanted to numb the pain I turned to alcohol and getting drunk. I stopped trusting God in times when I needed more money and worked out of a place of striving and wanting “more, more, more” so that I could provide for myself. I saw the hurt and destruction that gossip could bring as I was gossiped about and it left me feeling shaken and unworthy. I was the girl who developed an eating disorder because she didn’t have “that body” that was deemed “perfect” by the world’s standards. And when “everything” got to be too much and too heavy, when all of my sins and distractions of the world were blocking my view of God, I learned of self harm and the overwhelming desire to just give up. 

     Cue God. We serve a mighty, miraculous, good, and LOVING God who will not leave us when times get tough. Sometimes it may seem as if we have to fight our way back to Him to get past all the sin and crap that this world hurls our way. In the midst of this He whispers sweetly, “I WILL fight for you, and you need only to be still.” Not only does He fight our battles, but He has already proven to be the victor in each and every outcome. He went to the cross for drunkenness, for greed, for gossip, eating disorders, cutting, and even suicide. Our God is a god of redemption who transforms our sins into stories that glorify and exalt His name. So in the midst of your darkest battle never forget that the One who is fighting on your behalf has already won. You need only to be still. 

-Meagan 

*PRAYER REQUESTS:

My team and I are wrapping up our last week here in Novi Sad, Serbia. This has been a beautiful month that has ultimately filled me up with a passion and fire for my Savior like never before. We will be leaving to head to Belgrade on Monday and then leave for Romania (Month 8) early Tuesday morning! Please keep my team, squad, and I in your thoughts and prayers as we wrap up month 7 and prepare to head into month 8! Also continue to pray for the city of Novi Sad and the people of Serbia in general. It is a wonderful country with some of the most extraordinary individuals I’ve had the pleasure of meeting!