Picture this: you wake up at 1 a.m. to get on a charter bus at 2, where you will be till about 3 p.m., when you finally roll into a beautiful camp in Colorado. However, you aren’t alone on this bus— the complete opposite. It’s filled with high schoolers; some you know and some you don’t know. Surprise! You get to be a Young Life leader for a week, where you’ll stay up past midnight, sleep on a mattress on the ground, and wake up at 6:30 in the morning.
That might not be your cup of tea, but I love it. Obviously, I left out all the good of camp, like horseback riding, hiking, ropes courses, singing at the top of your lungs, and so much more. Somehow, you do so much with so little sleep.
This past week, I had the privilege of leading eight high school girls at Crooked Creek Ranch. Being honest, I dreaded this week for a while and really didn't want to go. I didn't know many of the girls very well, didn't know my co-leader, and was already exhausted before we even got on the bus. My cup was empty, and I just didn’t want to do it.
Luckily, we have a God who provides ABUNDANTLY.
The entire drive there, I prayed that God would change my attitude and give me supernatural strength. And He did. Not only did He sustain me, but I don't think I have felt that level of childlike joy in a long time.
One of my favorite things about Young Life camp is how clearly they present the Gospel. We talk honestly about sin and the cross. We acknowledge that we are broken people who often look for our worth and identity in things that can never truly satisfy us. But we also celebrate the hope we have through Jesus, the resurrection, and the abundant life we find when we are all in for Him.
One night, the speaker, Allen, brought in a college art project. He explained that he had spent months working on it. He knew every detail, every brushstroke, and every imperfection. When he turned it in, he got it back with a D and a note saying he needed to fix it. But he couldn't. That was the best he could do.
Allen used that story to illustrate how God sees us. God knows every detail of our lives. He sees every flaw, every mistake, and every imperfection, yet He still calls us His masterpiece.
Then Allen covered the artwork with red paint. On the paint, he wrote things we often use to define ourselves or cover our brokenness—grades, sports, alcohol, drugs, relationships, and more. Layer after layer covered the artwork until you could barely see it anymore. But what we didn't know was that there was a clear layer between the paint and the original piece. At the end, he peeled it away, revealing the artwork underneath.
It was a reminder of what Jesus has done for us. He removes our sin and shame and reminds us who we truly are. Not what the world says we are. Not what our mistakes say we are. We are loved by God.
Being at camp reminded me of the joy of the Lord. Teens were dancing, laughing, singing, and simply being kids. About 100 students stood up at the end of the week and declared that they wanted to be all in for God. One of those students was one of my girls. That alone made every hour on the bus and sleepless nights on the floor worth it.
Watching that reminded me that the Gospel never gets old. I was worried I wouldn’t have enough energy, or patience, or anything to give. I was reminded that God never asked me to bring enough; He was asking me to show up and trust Him to provide the rest.
Have the best day!