My heart throbbed. A knot tightened in my throat. An invisible hand rested upon my shoulder.

No, I wasn’t watching a horror film. I sat resting my laurels on a church pew when the said emotions took place. An announcement detailing a mission trip to India echoed over the microphone. Internally a microphone was speaking my name, “Dawn, I want you to go to India.” I began to shake. Was God speaking to me? To say India wasn’t on my bucket list would be an understatement!

I left church that Sunday but the microphone echoed in my heart daily. I began to pray against resistance and accept this assignment. Did God have different plans for me than I had for myself? I prayed for an open door but nothing happened. About the time I thought I was off the hook, God swung open a hidden door. After four years of seeking, He led me to places of surrender, trust, and discomfort. He made a way when there seemed to be no way.

Delta Airlines’ slogan states, “Delta is ready when you are.” I boarded their plane, but wasn’t sure I was ready for the trip. Only God knew what was in store and I’m glad He kept each detail a secret until the moment His plans unfolded before me. The days were long and yanked my heartstrings until I almost fainted. Psalm 27:13 states, “I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” Believing in God kept me centered. Staying centered in Him was necessary to complete the mission, especially on day five when an earthquake hit. The epicenter was north of India but the tremors reached Delhi, the city of our location. Tables and chandeliers swayed, plates fell and crashed, and people ran for the stairwell. What had happened far away affected the surface of my location. It also affected my focus in the moment.

Epicenter’s definition is: the point on the earth’s surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake; the central point of something, typically a difficult or unpleasant situation. While my surroundings shook, my heart remained peaceful. I knew God was holding me. He’d either carry me through the quake or take me home with Him. I’d rejoice either way.

No fainting. Centered in Christ. I saw the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Epicenter
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