FOLLOWING CLOSELY

Cayla Coningsby
Feb 5, 2020
5 min read

Updated: Mar 14, 2024

Oh, how I miss it. The hustle and bustle of life in the DR, the friendships, the intentionality, the people, but oh how the Lord is truly so good. This past year has been a whirlwind of emotions, changes, ups, downs, crazy Jesus moments, waiting seasons, and fun memories. Looking back, this year has shaped me in many ways. I remember last year being excited for what 2019 had to bring and boy did it bring it! 3 trips out of the country, 5 different states visited on spontaneous trips, new friendships, countless adventures, and Jesus touching my heart to the core. This week, an organization called Carry the Love came to FSU’s campus. Their mission is “to inspire our generation to love like Jesus”. Two years ago, they came onto my campus and I ended up getting baptized in Landis fountain. Through their ministry, God freed me from shame and revealed His unwavering love to me. At their worship night on Saturday, I worshipped alongside brothers and sisters in Christ and was overwhelmed by the joy He pours out. Standing there I opened my eyes and looked around the room. In that moment, the Lord revealed to me how much greater He is than I. How real He is. How to surrender to Him. How to love others like He does. How despite my selfishness, He still pursues me. It’s not just about you, me, us. All eyes and glory to Him. As I sit in a coffee shop reflecting on my summer internship, I remember the little things. Getting up early for 7 am meetings. Yellow Monday’s. Packing lunches (I couldn’t even eat because of peanuts lol). Looking forward to my morning cup of coffee and dry coffee creamer with a beautiful sunrise over the mountain tops. Little hands that wrap around my finger while I walk through the villages. The real, raw life transformation. Three months could not have gone by faster. What the Lord taught me is that it is okay to reminisce on past experiences and memories, but can be dangerous to simmer in. When we sit in the past, sometimes we don’t realize how it makes us unaware of the present. Unaware of what is right in front of us. Unaware of where the Lord is placing us next. It's real!! In a sermon a few Sunday’s back, Pastor Ben spoke upon something that I keep thinking about. In the Bible, Jesus describes a follower of Christ as a disciple. One who believes so much in their teacher they drop everything and follow Him. Following so close behind that you have the dust from His feet because you don’t want to miss a thing from Jesus. He stated his definition of a disciple as, “one who follows the teachings of Jesus for the mission of Jesus”. Flying home from Nashville last weekend, I finished reading Everybody Always by Bob Goff. (The first real book I’ve finished since like second grade) In one of the last chapters, He wrote about His experience climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro (my #1 bucket list activity). His guide had led groups to the summit multiple times safely, but Goff still experienced paralyzing fear. He persisted and if the guide stepped left, he stepped left, if the guide went over a rock instead of around it, he would step over it. Goff refused to take his eyes off the guide because, 1. there were cliffs on both sides and 2. the guide actually knew what he was doing. I laughed because he said he’d sometimes bump into the guide because he was following so closely behind him; his eyes glued on his feet. The guide didn’t care, he even laughed at Bob because of how closely he followed. Isn’t this similar to a relationship with Jesus? Following so closely behind Him, reading His word to receive His truth, constantly in communication with Him to grow and become more like Christ. He is our guide. He is selfless yet powerful. Full of wisdom and humility. He calls us to run home to Him. The more center He is in our lives, the more He shows of himself and pushes us. I just can’t get over his love. I am confident in Him. I don’t have to worry about anything! Not about the future, the past, my next exam, my health, my next step. I know His plan is far greater than mine. And with Him as my guide, He’s already setting a path before me. Matthew 6:25-34 talks all about this. Look at the earth. He cares for the birds in the air, He cares for the lilies of the field to grow, what makes it different for His people? Worrying is waste of time in all honesty. We can be consumed by it. Take up hours in a day just thinking about it. I’ve found that for many college students, its easy to be consumed with worry over what our next step will be. But Jesus makes it simple, Matthew 6:34, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.” Don’t let it affect your today. Live life. Take a walk, see His beauty. Go get a coffee, talk to others. Get out of your comfort zone. He works it out! Sometimes we may not get the first choice or second option, but the Lord puts us in places for a reason. Let’s make the best out of every day. As I am a nanny here at school. I’m literally a soccer mom driving a minivan to pick up the kids from school. But something is consistent during those drives. 88.1-way FM is on while I drive and after every talk break before they play the next song they say, “There’s plenty of nice people in the world. If you can’t find one, be one.” As cheesy as the quote is, it has made me think about how I’m treating others daily. Jesus loves everyone always. For example, my road rage is out of this world. I’ll be on the way to CHURCH and get so angry at drivers. That’s where I catch myself and say, “woah woah woah... calm down. Is this showing kindness, love, patience? Is this showing JESUS?” My goal this year is to love others like Jesus does. Looking past flaws and hurt, I want to meet people where they’re at. Jesus talked to anyone and everyone the same. Why shouldn’t we do that too? So, if you see me road raging, getting impatient, being mean or selfish, call your girl out. I need it. That’s called ~accountability~. Let’s shine some sunshine today!!! Just something on my mind I wanted to share. I am far from perfect, but Jesus makes this life so fun. Following his steps every day reveals more of who He is and how He loves! Stay rad y’all, Cay