God Is Faithful

God Is Faithful

When God Gives the Desire and Brings It to Fruition

Reflections from Psalm 20

Photo: The shores of Oahu, where a spent time at Ho 'Ola Na Pua, which means "New life for our children."

Some mornings the Lord simply whispers, "Read here."

Today, it was Psalm 20.

As I slowly made my way through the text, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude. The words on the page felt deeply personal, as though they were recounting the many seasons of my own journey with God. Tears filled my eyes as I considered His faithfulness over decades of walking with Him.

A life lived with Christ is not without hardship. Quite the opposite. It leads us through valleys and mountaintops, through seasons of abundance and seasons of waiting. It reveals what our faith is truly made of and brings us face-to-face with circumstances that are simply too great for us to carry alone.

Looking back, I can see so many moments when my need was too great for any person to fulfill. Yet the Lord defended me. He strengthened me. He provided what I lacked and carried me when my own strength was gone.

Psalm 20 says,

“May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion. May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifices.”

I smiled as I read those words because they reminded me that God sees every hidden act of obedience. Every sacrifice. Every quiet "yes." Every offering that no one else notices.

Not because I am someone extraordinary, but because I have learned to place my trust in Him, even when choosing another path would have seemed easier.

And even that is His grace.

Apart from Him, I can do no good. Every ounce of perseverance, every act of obedience, every opportunity to serve has been empowered by His Spirit working within me.

Verse 4 especially captured my heart:

"May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed."

What a generous God we serve.

He gives the purpose.

He gives the desire to walk in that purpose.

Then, in His perfect timing, He brings it to fruition.

As I look toward the next five to eight years, my heart continues to dream about what many would call a nontraditional retirement—not one marked by leisure, but by deeper service.

For years, God has entrusted me with spiritual daughters. Through coaching, counseling, speaking, advocacy, and ministry, I have watched Him restore hope to women who believed their stories were over. Each season has felt like preparation for something greater still.

That "something" has a name in my heart:

The Healer's Refuge.

I envision it as a place where girls and young women—up to the age of twenty-one—who have survived the trauma of sex trafficking can find safety, stability, and hope. A place where they are not defined by what was done to them but by the image of God in which they were created.

A place where they can receive compassionate care, practical support, and the stability they need as they heal from profound trauma and prepare for adulthood.

The reality is that children continue to grow chronologically, but those who have been robbed of innocence, safety, and security often enter adulthood carrying wounds that remain unaddressed. Without a safe place to heal holistically, many find themselves navigating life without the emotional, relational, and practical foundation needed to flourish as healthy, contributing members of society.

Too often, unresolved trauma continues from one generation to the next, impacting future relationships, families, and children.

My prayer is to interrupt that cycle.

The Healer's Refuge would exist to offer hope where there has been despair, guidance where there has been confusion, and steadfast love where there has been abandonment. It would be a place where healing is possible, identity is restored, and young women are equipped not merely to survive their past but to build lives marked by dignity, purpose, and hope for generations to come.

A place where they are reminded every single day that they are deeply loved, immensely valuable, and worthy of a beautiful future.

I don't know exactly how God will accomplish it, but I know this: He has been preparing my heart for it for a very long time.

When I think about all the seemingly unrelated chapters of my life—the years of ministry, leadership, writing, speaking, counseling, advocacy, and even the painful seasons that taught me dependence upon Him—I am confident that He has been weaving them together all along for His greater purpose.

Some may read this and think it sounds exhausting—or even a little crazy—to spend retirement pouring yourself into more work.

I understand that. The life I am describing is not for everyone, nor should it be. There is no single way to live a life of purpose, and I believe God calls each of us differently.

But some of us are simply wired to spend our lives pouring out what He has poured in.

As unconventional as it may seem, the life I envision doesn't feel burdensome to me. It feels like joy. It feels like worship. It feels like the natural response to a God who has been so exceedingly faithful.

If He grants me the strength, I can think of no greater privilege than to spend the latter years of my life helping young women discover that healing is possible and that their stories are not over.

As long as there is breath in my body, I want to spend it serving the One who first served me and loving those whom the world has too often forgotten.

So today, as I look ahead 5-8 years, my prayer remains simple:

Lord, make Your servant ready.

Prepare my heart before You prepare the assignment.

Help me to do the hard work.

Help me to walk wisely and with discernment.

Keep my heart tender and my hands willing.

Let me see those who are hurting.

Guard me from growing weary in doing good.

And above all else, let my life bring glory to Your name.

If you are someone who faithfully prays for the ministries God continues to unfold in my life, I would be deeply grateful for your prayers.

And if, perhaps, God has stirred something within your own heart as you read these words—whether through prayer, partnership, encouragement, or simply curiosity—I would welcome the opportunity to share more of the vision He continues to write.

Because I believe with all my heart that when God plants a holy desire, He is already preparing the way for its fulfillment.

God is faithful.