One truth kept penetrating my mind and heart at Priority—I am not alone, others are cheering me on! This theme was not communicated by a solitary speaker, but over and over again by multiple people over the weekend. As the writer of Hebrews said, we really were “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1).
The time of worshiping and learning together with my sisters in Christ is such an encouragement. But as Jennifer Smith reminded me in a breakout session, Priority weekend is not real life. I don’t get to stay there; I have to leave and go home. My church is very small and it is easy to get overwhelmed. The Christian life can seem lonely, at times.
But Jennifer declared I am not alone! Look up and remember that there is a great group of Christians that have gone before me that are in heaven cheering me on! “You can do this, Traci! Keep praying, keep listening, keep obeying! You can complete this race well!”
In addition, I have all my Illinois sisters in Christ cheering me on. We are on this journey of following Christ together. If needed, I can reach out to my Illinois connections for prayer and direction. As Bruce Kugler reiterated, “Heaven AND earth are cheering us on!”
Connie Dixon added to this truth when speaking of the Sequoia trees. They may grow 300 feet tall, but the roots are only four feet deep. On the surface, that seems too shallow to support such a large tree. But the reason that the four-foot roots are so strong is because the roots of the trees are all intertwined together. In the same way, I can stay strong in my calling by growing roots with my sisters. Their strength can strengthen me. We are bound together in this mission for Jesus.
During Priority 2024, the Holy Spirit wanted me to hear loud and clear that I am not alone. Message received.
– Traci Jahnke is a member of Faith Baptist Church, Breese