Jesus + These Rolling Hills: A Season of Thanksgiving by Delacy Rowland

Jesus + These Rolling Hills. A phrase that I find myself repeating over and over and over again in this new season of life. A phrase that came to me when I was spiritually, emotionally, even physically on my knees begging Jesus to show me something… anything. I often hear these dark times referred to as a valley. I guess because they are often dark and frustrating to travel through, but for people, the valleys mimic the hard times we go through as broken humans. Deep and dark, full of loss, confusion, frustration, emotions I couldn’t and still can’t always explain; I was in what you would call a valley.

But this is not what I want to focus on. In this new season of life I am still trudging through so many valleys, yes, but where there are valleys there are also mountains, or in Nashville’s case, rolling hills. 

Every morning, I take Old Hickory Boulevard to Franklin Road for work, and every morning I drive in awe of God’s creation. Most mornings, the sun is shining golden rays through the sea of hills, leading a crisp and perfect melody, while the leaves of the trees harmonize yellow, orange and red songs of His praise. I find myself reminded, during my morning commutes, of God’s goodness and faithfulness to me through His incredible creation. I am reminded every morning, even as I am traveling through valleys, that God is with me in these rolling hills… 

Jesus + these rolling hills.

As I am clinging to God’s goodness and faithfulness during these new and ever-changing seasons of life, I wanted to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to the one who gave His son for us, so that we may live and have life, abundantly, even in the hardest of times.

Lord, here I am, let my cries come to you. I pray, Lord, that you would allow my lips to sing your praise, just as the hills and leaves do, and that my words will be as a song of thanksgiving for all you have done for me and my community. Thank you, Lord, first and foremost, for the gift of your goodness. Even though I am broken, unworthy to have a seat at your table, you welcome me as I am. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, as the sacrifice so that we may know you and come to your table as we are. Lord, thank you for offering us a seat at the table, and for the gifts of your goodness, mercy, and unwavering love. 

You remind us, Lord, in Matthew 11, to come to you even as we are weary and heavy burdened, that you provide rest. Thank you for the gift of rest. I pray that during these upcoming holiday seasons, we may all have the strength to remember that you call us to stop and rest with you. That your rest is unlike any other.

Thank you, Lord, for your creation. For the beautiful world that you have hand crafted, you know every leaf, you know every valley, you know every mountaintop, you know us. Thank you for knowing us individually, for numbering the very hairs of our heads (Luke 12:7). 

Lord I thank you for each member of the Nashville Fellows Board. For Bo, Mallory, Katherine, Ed, Steve, David, Carol, Cammy, Amy, Sarah, and Matt, and for all others who I may have forgotten, those who you remember. Thank you for their hard work to make this year, this program possible for each of us fellows.

Lord, I thank you for Sonnie, and for her guidance to all of us during this season of change.

Lord, I thank you for our fearless director, John, and his heart to serve each of us and this community. Thank you for helping him, and I pray that you continue to guide him as we embark further into this Fellows year and in the years to come. Thank you for his family, Kendra, Caroline, Wilder and Gus, and for their willingness to welcome us into their home with open arms, even in the midst of such unsure times. Thank you for each of them and for the light that they bring us.

Lord, I especially thank you for each of the Fellows, that you can bring a group of 11 unique individuals together for your glory. Lord, thank you for the gift of friendship.

I thank you for Adrianne Hawkes, and her ability to be true to who she is and to come as she is.

I thank you for Philip Gaines, and for his knowledge and passion for you, and for his kindness. 

I thank you for Anna Brown, and for her wisdom that comes from you, and for her ability to step up and lead within our group.

I thank you for Garner Nottingham, and for his knowledge of the world and of the church, and for his ability to step forward and speak his mind.

I thank you for Sydney Marple, and for her grace-giving spirit and for her strength.

I thank you for Aidan Sullivan, and for his creative spirit and willingness to come as he is.

I thank you for Olivia McKain, and for her serving heart, and for the inspiration that she is.

I thank you for Robbie Moore, and for his spirit of worship, and for his gift of enthusiasm he brings to our group.

I thank you for Brianna Pope, and for her willingness to show up as she is without fear of what others think, and for her guidance.

I thank you for Clay Bowden, and for her caring and loving heart, and for her ability and willingness to walk hand in hand with those around her.

I thank you for each one of my friends here, Lord, and I pray that you give each one of them ample rest over the holiday seasons to come, so that we are ready to continuously serve you when we return. I pray that you hear their hearts Lord, hear their cries, and their thanks. I pray that you meet them where they are and guide them closer to you as you answer their prayers.

I thank you for their families. For taking the risks of sending us to serve you further and to grow with you further. I thank you that they did send their children to be here, even in the midst of unknown times. I pray that you bring every one of them rest, healing, or whatever needs they may have Lord. Meet them, Lord, guard, guide, and protect them.

I thank you for my family, Lord, for their willingness to help me follow you. For sending me to this place, in a time of worldly unknowns and new seasons for our family. I thank you for their ability to trust you with my journey and for their continued support. I thank you for my mom, my dad, my sister, my brother, my brother-in-law, and for our newest addition, my niece, Cecile. 

I thank you, Lord, for each of our support systems around us. For our friends, extended families, and all who have supported us, near and far. I thank you for the “homes away from home” and the gift of community that you so graciously have given us outside of our immediate community. I especially thank you for each of my friends, my boyfriend, and the loved ones who are not here with me in Nashville. 

I thank you, Lord, for our Nashville community. For each of those people who helped us get here. I thank you for those who helped with our living situations, those who donated our apartments, furniture, cookware, and all those who have helped meet our needs. I thank you for their gracious and giving hearts. I thank you that they have helped us and continuously help us live comfortably in this community.

I thank you for our churches, Lord, that they are a place of support and learning. I thank you for the gifts that they are to us and the Nashville community. I thank you for each of the staff, clergy, and people who help make our churches what they are. I pray that your provisions are placed upon each church, Lord, so that they may continue to a house of your worship and guide people to know you more.

I thank you for each of our church leaders. For Sadie, Bobby and Shelley, that you would watch over them during these holiday seasons and always, Lord. I thank you for their willingness to help us meet our needs here in these communities, Lord. I thank you that they lead us to be better servant leaders.

I thank you for our community within our churches, Lord. For our host families, mentors, small groups, and all of those who welcome us into your house of worship. 

I thank you for each and every one of our youth, Lord. For those at St. George’s and all other churches. I thank you for their hearts that are on fire for you, Lord, and for their willingness to learn and know you more. May they be as a reminder to us of your goodness.

I thank you, Lord, for our teachers, and for their gifts of wisdom and knowledge that you have so graciously given them. I thank you for the ability to learn and grow with their help.

I thank you, Lord, for our places of work. For EvidenceCare, and all of the other workplaces who have brought on Fellows this year. I thank you for each of the people who work in these places, Lord. For their guidance, help, and willingness to help us grow and succeed in all of our new tasks. I thank you for the ability to learn.

I thank you, Lord, for Nashville, TN. For the beautiful creation of a place that it is. For the adventure it has offered and will offer in the future. I thank you that we all are learning to live in this place well, and I pray that you lead us to serve this city further. 

I thank you Lord, for all the many blessings that you have provided us with in this life. For those during our time here and for all of those blessings to come. I pour out my thanks to you. I thank you for the adversities and seasons of trial that we have faced, Lord, knowing that you create trial to bring us closer to you in new ways. I thank you Lord for the gift of surrender, that you have shown many of us that alone we are insignificant, but when we surrender to you we are more than enough. You provide us with more than we could ever want, and more than we will ever need. We thank you for hearing us even when we don’t feel heard, for seeing us even when we feel invisible. I thank you for caring and loving us, individually as we are. I thank you for the gift of the holiday season to come, remind us of your blessings and of what these holidays truly mean. I thank you for this life, Lord. You are more than enough. We thank you for who you are and all that you do for us. I lift up these and many more prayers to you, Lord, the God of power and might, unfailing love and steadfast mercy. 

In God’s holy and gracious name,

Amen.