For the first time in a very very long time, I don’t know where to start. I’m overwhelmed and taken aback and just… speechless and out of words.

As I write this, I’m walking around terminal A of New York’s Newark Liberty International airport, with a hot chocolate (Yum) in hand and a full, grateful heart, waiting for my next flight.

In January 2016, my associate position with Samaritan’s Purse was coming to an end and I had begun praying about returning to India. At the time God didn’t say “Yes, go to India” or “No, you’re not going to India.” All He said was, “I’m going to bring you back to this land.” I didn’t understand what that meant because I hadn’t left America. But in June 2016, I did. My H1B application didn’t go through and I came back to India. I came back with more questions than answers, more uncertainties than surety, more insecurities than security, more confusion than clarity. The one thing that remained constant through it all, was God’s goodness and faithfulness and His promise to bring me back to “this” land.

Like He always does, God kept His word and here I am, three years later, on a flight to North Carolina, to a place I once called home! God made me a promise, and no matter how “long” it took, He followed through. You know, I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I tried to help Him fulfill His promise (and failed), as if He needed my assistance (Pffffff!) and how many times I doubted if He remembered, He cared, or if, at the very least, He had a plan for me.

Long story short, I am a testament to this – God did remember. He did care. And He definitely did have a plan – A plan to prosper me and not harm, to give me a hope and a future.

I don’t know what promise you are waiting for, but allow me to encourage you –

• There is grace in the waiting.

• There is purpose in the waiting.

• There is intimacy in the waiting.

• The waiting is for your good.

• The waiting is preparing you for the adventure ahead.

• The waiting is teaching you that even when you can’t see, God is not silent. He’s working all things for your good. He knows what He’s doing. And for now, that is enough.

My season of waiting has been transformational. In fact, I didn’t even realize that God was working on my behalf and bringing me to this very point in my life. And along the way He opened doors I never thought existed, brought me opportunities I could never fathom, and adventures I’m still reeling from. During these three years:

• I could be there with my dad as he went from being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, to beginning dialysis and needing someone by his side, to severe blood poisoning, to starting a new method of dialysis, to my mom becoming my dad’s primary caregiver and my parents becoming and living life independent of me.

• I travelled 11 countries including exotic places like Fiji, Italy, Spain and France, and got to meet my best friend who I hadn’t seen in 6yrs.

• I learned that the church matters. People matter. If we can just stop thinking about what the church can do for you, or how it has failed you, you’ll see that the church has some very real and pressing needs, and you should step in and fill it.

• I learned that the church will be my community if and only if I let it.

• I learned that not all needs must be met by leadership. You can meet them too. So do it.

• I got to develop intentional relationships with some sweet young girls/women who I know are future leaders.

Every time I stopped to look back at how far I’ve come, all I can be is grateful. The path God has carved for me isn’t one that I could’ve ever carved for myself and my only response to it has been “Then sings my soul, how great Thou art!”

If you take nothing back from this post, take this – God does remember. He does care. He definitely has a plan. And sooner than later, when the time is just right, He’ll show you His perfect plan.

“He who started a good work in you, will be faithful to bring it to fruition.”

In closing I must say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!

PS: Yes I did eat Chick-Fil-A and yes, it tasted just as good as I remember it!