Just.... Breath

I will be leaving in less than 2 days for Las Vegas. I have been receiving a lot of the same two questions: Are you ready? Are you nervous?

Am I ready? I am to the best of my knowledge. How can I truly be ready for a city with the population of the entire state of Iowa? How can I truly be ready when I do not know what I will be doing, what my classes will be like, who I will be living with or how often I will be able to call home? But, I have my Snuggie and deodorant, so yes, I think I am ready!

The 'am I nervous' question can also be replaced with, 'what are you most worried about' question. What am I worried about? Well, let me tell you! I will be picked up early afternoon on Sunday, is that enough times to make friends? Who am I going to sit with at dinner Sunday night? What will be for dinner? I do not eat food from a can, meat, processed food or very many breads, am I going to end up starving in the corner alone because I have no friends? How often will I be able to do laundry? Will I be close to a post office if I need stamps? Oh goodness, I am stressing out here! I workout to reduce stress, will I be able to work out? Do they have a little gym where I am staying? What if I want to go for a walk in the morning, is that permissible? Wait, I'm a morning person. So Monday morning when I naturally wake up at 5 am what do I do? Do I lay in bed, do I get up, can I go outside and do my devotions outside? What if the doors have alarms and I set one off going outside in the morning? Okay, breathe, just breathe. It will all be okay.

So I go through my list of concerns with other people, typically not giving them the entire list though. And they laugh, often replying with, "So you're not concerned about being robbed, kidnapped, being around prostitutes and pimps, being forced into prostitution and having a pimp, being in the heart of Sin City, or being killed?" Wow, okay, that makes me feel so much better. No, I had not even been concerned about those things, but now I am!

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

In all reality though, I am exstatic. When David said the joy of the Lord is his strength, I understand that. I am not sitting in my room running through all possible mishaps that I could encounter, in fact I only begin to worry when somebody asks me if I am worrying. I sit in my room filled with joyous emotions. I may be going to Sin City, but God is going to be with me. He will enable me to withstand temptation. Even though I may be walking through streets of darkness and despair, I will not fear the evil lurking around me, because my Shepard will be with me, His rod and His staff of protection will comfort me. I am overwhelmed. If I set off the alarms in the morning, everybody can join me outside for devotions. If there is not a post office near by, I will have a nice walk/workout on the weekends. If I do not have a gym to use as a de-stresser, maybe I will finally learn what it means to fully cast my cares on the Lord. And maybe I will become less of a food snob; let's not push it to far though :)

Please be in prayer for me. God may be with me and He may command me to be strong and courageous, but I am still shaking in my boots.

With much love and gratitude,
Livia Francis Pezley