I am a firm believer that you are where you are, this moment, for a reason. I believe that you are in school where you are for a reason, your family is yours for a reason, and your roommate is yours for a reason.
Can I just say that I love my roommate? She is one of my best friends and there is no doubt in my mind that she is my roommate for a reason. We lived together last year as well and upon moving in freshman year we were talking about going to church. She explained to me that she had a Bible that her Grandma had given her and she wanted to go to church with me sometime. I, of course, told her that she was welcome anytime and then I pretty much left it at that. We went to church a few times together and I could see her starting to open up, but not totally. I have to admit that I was a little frustrated. I thought that her going to church, say, 4 times was going to result in her meeting Jesus and becoming a Christian, the whole 9 yards. While, of course, it was possible for that to happen, God had another plan for her.
We came back to school this year and once again we talked about going to church more often. We started going every week but when softball started up we slacked off going. About halfway through the fall, I went through a terrible breakup. It was one of the hardest things I have ever been through. My roommate had also gone through the same thing this past summer. So there we sat, 2 in the morning, with me holding my Bible, reading, and both of us crying. It is a moment I will never ever forget and it was a moment that I realized that God was not done, and is still not done, with either one of us.
Last week when I woke up for church, my roommate was still asleep. She stirred a little as I was getting ready and I asked if she wanted to go with me. She said yes so we picked up everyone we were going with and headed to Newspring. The Gospel was shared and when the invitation was given, I watched my roommate and another teammate stand and receive Christ. I immediately started bawling like a baby. I instantly thought of the previous year and my frustration about God not moving in my roommate's life sooner and wondering why I kept asking her to go to church with me. How selfish was I? God had it under control and He knew that on February 5, 2012, my roommate would cross over from death to life.
It was one of the most exciting days of my life (and hers) and I can not even begin to explain my thankfulness for her in my life and that I serve a God who is capable of anything.
I am so excited about what God has in store for me, my roommate, and my other teammate. I can see Him working and moving in their lives and my own. At first it was hard to go out on a limb and share my faith and invite her to church and it got even harder to ask when it appeared as if nothing was happening in her life. I am thankful that God is persistent and is at work even when we cannot see it.
Lauren and Natalie- I love y'all more than you will ever know and I am so excited that you took this next step in your life. I believe that we are all here for a reason and we are sharing this part of life together for a reason. I am thankful that God is allowing me to share it with you both.
:)
