Carolinsblog

I had never experienced a goodbye like the one I had at the end of my time at Bible school, and I had never expected this kind of goodbye before.

Honest, warm, open, loving, emotional… we as a community said goodbye to each other with a warmth that only exists in a family that loves each other.

I enjoyed seeing some of us students getting baptized in the Bodensee first – my heart was filled with deep joy and love for each person baptized. It was so moving to see this, to hear the testimonies, and to be reminded again and again of the grace of Jesus.

A few days later we had to say goodbye to each other and let each other go, which is not easy when you have lived so closely together as a community and have grown to love people so much.

It’s really painful to have to say goodbye, especially when you think that I’m now half a world away from some dear friends. We have a time difference of about six to eight hours and that separates in an earthly, human way the connection, the fellowship we had at Bible school.

Nevertheless, it is so good to know that we are a family in Christ, through His Spirit we belong together and are connected, even if eight-hour time difference, a different/new environment, a different continent, and a new chapter in everyone’s life seem to make it difficult for us to stay in close contact and exchange with each other.

However, through Jesus, we are still just as connected and united as we were in this one building… (Ephesians 4:4-6) just in a different way.

Saying goodbye was harder, sadder, and more painful than ever before, but that is precisely why it is all the more hopeful and expectant for the future with the certainty of lasting friendships, the worldwide church, the cross-continental unity of the body of Christ… in the security of the eternally faithful one, Jesus himself.

A farewell, a goodbye, the earthly separation that goes with it, is only hard and painful because being together with these people was so wonderful. It is only sad because I know I will miss this community, this closeness of my dear friends and it will be hard to keep up the kind of conversations we had… simply because we are all going back to everyday life, new circumstances surround us and we are taking our place in this world again (and it is necessary and good).

How grateful I am for this time that I had at Bible school, how incredibly happy the memories that I associate with it make me, and how much I value the friendships I got from there… I got to know people of my heart – that’s what I call a blessing.

Whether it’s friends I’ve met at Bible school or among God’s children in general, it’s the same principle… Our heart beats for Jesus, His Kingdom. We strive for holiness, purity, and Christ-likeness because we are convinced of our own inadequacy and imperfection. We long for the perfect fulfillment of His promises, we love Him, our Lord – and because we love Him, we love one another.

This One unites us – JESUS.

I know that He lives in me – I know that He lives in my friends.

It gives me so much joy and deep peace to think that even though continents may separate us, we love each other because we are family in Jesus because we belong to one body, His church. I will see them again…

How reassuring and good to know that Jesus rules sovereignly and that everything is subject to His power (Matthew 28:18-20). It is not up to me how well I live this life, but it is up to Him who has begun this good work in me (as well as in my friends) and is faithful to bring it to perfection (Philippians 1:6).

He is faithful, He remains faithful – He keeps what He has promised.

Lovingly,

Caro ♡

P.S.: How good that I never have to say goodbye to Jesus Himself, because He will always remain with me… He remains, even when everything else seems to fall.