Peace & Purpose in the Waiting

Annie Cerovich
23 hours ago
3 min read

Bonjour d'un mois de mai calme et chill à Grenoble! Hello from a peaceful and chill month of May in Grenoble!

the stairs of the Bastille: what started as a tough workout to prove myself is now a tough workout just because I enjoy it!

Praises

beginning to feel more and more like myself - higher energy levels, focus, feeling more grounded as I recover from burnout
time before camp to practice healthy rhythms and restore
the middle school group at church— the amount of enthusiasm and desire they have to know and hear about God
a sweet goodbye to my housemates

Prayers

I will be at Camp des Cimes June 23rd - August 13th, alternating between program and service team. Prayers for discernment on how to continue taking care of myself, as well as for the campers and staff coming. The theme for the summer is “The Search”: the different "gospels" that are in the world/media/cultural moment and where we can find the Gospel woven in.
Continued courage to trust God in the midst of not knowing quite what next year looks like, while seeing and pushing into praying about returning to France with missions in mind
For our middle school group at church next year— prayers for new leaders

My first associations with the word “discipline” are often negative, and if not negative, then militantly regimented. This past month, though, I have learnt the sweetness of discipline: the joys in rhythm and self-control. It’s been an overall peace-filled, beautifully mundane month as I come out of my burnout shell and back into a healthier place of energy and involvement. It’s been such a blessing to see the places of God’s victory in my life now coming into practice: it’s no longer a battle to take care of myself and engage in quotidian activities. I’ve gotten into a routine of exercise, contemplative time in Gods presence, capturing my thoughts, and practicing shifting my point of view to God's point of view. I am thoughtful and mindful about giving my brain and body little moments of rest throughout the day (and not doom-scrolling, but true moments of slowing down and being present.)

While each new rhythm has taken self control, I see God's hand so evidently present in my life as my vision of why I am disciplined has changed. Whereas before many of my routines were rooted in fear or a need to prove myself, now they are out of a genuine desire to know and love God, and therefore a genuine desire to take care of myself.

I've also been able to start, very slowly, working on my thesis again, but am thankful to have been granted another year of work until it needs to be defended.

hike with the roommates, cherries from the tree in the front yard, view from the cherry tree

This might seem like a small lifestyle shift, but for the battles I struggle with, it’s been a big victory. The more I focus on my Savior instead of what I lack or that I’m not enough or that I’m lost or that I just can’t take care of myself, the more I experience His grace and redemption and healing.

I praise God for His healing, and step into His grace instead of shame when I tumble back into old habits or thought patterns. It is freeing to know that God would pursue and love me, even if I didn’t change. (Though he wants me to change because He loves me and wants me to be free.)

And oh what a good Father He is, preparing and healing me, showing me new rhythms and patterns to implement before I step into serving at Camp des Cimes this summer.

As for my next steps this upcoming year, I am confident in God’s love for me as it surrounds and upholds and protects me. I know that He has good plans for me, though I cannot see the full picture. I am continuing to surrender my heart to Him in relation to my possible future in France, and trust Him in this time of waiting. It says so often in His word to wait for the Lord, while also reminding us of His love for us.

I have been meditating on these verses as I wait and hope in the Lord:

"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you..."

Isaiah 26:8

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart. Wait for the Lord."

Psalm 27:13-14

"...the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him."

Psalm 32:10

(Love as a covering, based on trust)

I hope to do at least one or two newsletter updates this summer at camp! À bientôt 💌