God Goes Before Us

words Captain Rachel Montgomery

It was with a sense of anticipation and excitement that I set off to be a leader at the Intermediates Camp which was held at Blue Mountain Adventure Centre (BMAC) at the end of September. I knew it was going to be an incredible opportunity for young people to connect with God through creation and adventure; however, I may have overlooked how God would use this experience to show me more of his loving kindness.

One of the activities was white-water rafting, something that I’d not done before and wasn’t feeling overly confident in trying. I wasn’t shy in putting my hand up to be in a boat that I’m labelling ‘nervous travellers’. Weighed down by many layers of protective gear, I awkwardly got into the raft and said a prayer. We spent a little time practising the strokes and then set off for this wild and wonderful adventure.

As I listened to Phil, our instructor, calling out the commands, I began to realise he was completely in control of our journey, and he knew this river with its many bends and turns. Phil prepared us for what lay ahead, clearly explaining what the next set of rapids was like and how we were going to get through them as a team. As our adventure progressed, we began to grow in confidence in how we would tackle the rapids, and much to my surprise, we even gave some 360s a go.

As I reflect on this experience, I realise that God has revealed more of his character to me through this adventure. He is like the instructor who already knows the path but graciously leads and encourages us along the journey. God is incredibly kind and patient; he doesn’t pressure us, but rather wills us on to try these new things that help us to grow more in our trust of who he is.