God is Good
In my senior year at Rollins College, I experienced many thoughts revolving around stepping into the “real world.” What were my plans- “Should I go to PA school, should I find a job, should I move back to Saint Pete?” Feelings of unsettledness arose as I considered these options. When I finally reached the point of total surrender and open hands, entrusting my “after-college life” to the Lord, doors to the Fellows Initiative were opened. Through the uncertainty and certainty in life, God’s goodness is always a constant. His good plans for my life are often not how I would have envisioned them, but it is immeasurably better than what I had in store.
Since being a Nashville Fellow, I have consistently learned about God’s goodness. Saying “God is good” is a quote that gets thrown around often, but when we fully rest in that truth, there is absolute freedom. Freedom to live a life for His glory in His everlasting love. What an amazing thing to be thankful for! A verse that encompasses this well comes from Psalm 136:1
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.”
I have seen God’s goodness in so many ways here in Nashville. As a result, I have a heart of deep thankfulness. He has been revealing to me the power of His word and His love for me through Christ, and He has shown me areas where I need growth. I have even seen His goodness and beauty through His creation of the changing colors of the leaves during this Fall season. I continue to find myself in awe that the Lord desires to have a relationship with me and wants me to grow deeper into Him. How good is He for placing me and the other Fellows in this program where we can grow deeper to Him through godly relationships, wise counsel, and theological teachings?
I have been able to experience God’s goodness through His provision of authentic relationships with the other Fellows/Fellows leaders, my host family, and my community at Parks & West End Community Church Youth Group. Only by His grace have I been able to experience His love through others. Our class had the opportunity to read Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer over the summer. A quote that stood out to me and helped set the tone for the rest of this program was, “The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.” Being physically surrounded by this outstanding Nashville community has reminded me of His love and joy.
Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller helped clarify a lot for me regarding work. I have since learned how work is a good gift from God, where I get to participate in being the fingers of God, sharing His love and care with others. So far, working in the medical field has taught me how God has gifted individuals in different ways to carry out His good works. It has been amazing to see the Lord equip doctors and other providers to help physically care for His creation - His people. This act of physically helping others points to an even greater healing, the spiritual healing we receive in Jesus. With pain, sickness, and hurt still existing in this world, I continue to find myself longing for that healing, both physically and spiritually, that we ultimately see in Him (Revelation 21:4). Through our Metanarrative class, I continue to be encouraged through the remembrance that God is renewing all things!
I am continuing to learn how to find my full rest in Jesus (Matthew 11: 28-30) while still being present in all the areas God has so graciously placed me in! God is good!
Ashley Russell Class 11
Hometown: Saint Petersburg, FL
Graduate of Rollins College
