I love when God catches your heart in the simple things.
I grew up in a beautiful state— a place that I will always call home. The people are different, but the trees are the same. The history is rich, and the memories are dear. But as beautiful as my city is, there is a darkness that tries to cover the light it was always created to possess.
My high school gained the heart wrenching and notorious nickname “Suicide High.” As many people there were who knew Jesus, there even more who didn’t. As a teenager, I saw beautiful people who felt forgotten— invisible, hurt and tired. Kids that just didn’t know how to heal. They forgot how loved they were, but Jesus never forgot about them.
Fast-forward many years to the present, and I’m living in Northern California after graduating from the ministry school at Bethel Church. Though hundreds of miles away, my city still holds a special place in my heart. When I was invited to travel back to Seattle with Bethel Music as a photographer for Worship Nights, I immediately said yes. I knew this would be a night that my city would never forget. That night, I walked into the dining room as the Bethel Music team gathered to pray.
Prophetic songs began to transpire, and my heart was undone:
“You’re a bright city”
“There is beauty in your history”
“Seattle, you are not forgotten”
I recognized, if even for a moment, that just like my city, I too had forgotten how good He really is. Life isn’t a small thing to Him. Though we may feel unseen and insignificant, He is always thinking about us— we are His prized possessions. As the prayers began to wrap up, I remembered the faithfulness of Jesus. He never leaves, He never ignores. He chases us, seeks us out, and faithfully adores us.
And with that, the evening began. Getting to capture the room worshipping with all of their hearts, re-calibrated mine in the deepest of ways. We were led to a place of complete surrender and joy, and I was overwhelmed as my worlds collided.
I realized then that when hard things in your life happen, He doesn’t forget. He holds us close; closer than we’ve ever been held. He loves us until we let go and discover that His plans are bigger and better than we could even imagine, and then He loves us all the way after that.