Potomac Conference

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“My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me” (Ps. 63:8, NASB).

An item on my bucket list is to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia. Adventurers who cross the structure for a 360-degree view of the waterfront city must wear a special suit that straps them to a railing. Gale winds at the summit can reach 55 miles per hour, enough force to rip a roof off a building.

Securing people to a structure for safety harkens back to ancient Greek literature. In Homer’s epic Odyssey, the hero Odysseus’ ship passes by Sirens, monsters disguised as beautiful women who sing enchanting melodies and lure sailors to their deaths. Odysseus demands to be strapped to the mast so he can hear the music but not be enticed by the Sirens.

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“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6, NKJV).

Growing up in a loving Muslim home—led by my generous, strong, industrious mother—was a tremendous blessing to me. A commitment to the five pillars of Islam provided a foundation upon which I developed a reverence for an omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent God.

However, that foundation also left me seeking more. In spite of my questions and misgivings, I persisted in my desire to walk with God unreservedly. I wanted to know truth—even if it made me uncomfortable. One day, while at my university campus job, I lowered my head onto the desk and prayed, “God, please show me truth. No matter how you direct me, I just want to know truth.”

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5–6, NKJV).

The book was How People Grow, by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. I had been courageously absorbing its wisdom for several weeks. Eventually, though, I had to stop and address a painful realization: I’m nowhere near the emotionally healthy adult I should be.

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“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jer. 29:11, NIV).

Throughout my life, this verse has always reminded me that God is in control. There are times when I wonder why things happen the way they do or if something in my life is the right thing for me. However, each time these doubts fill my mind, I remember that God puts everything in my life for a purpose.