We have been in an amazing journey for nearly eleven years since coming to pastor Eastridge in Issaquah. Shortly after our arrival God put in Steve’s heart the need to prepare for our future. None of us had any idea at that time what that would mean or even where it would be. Nevertheless, we followed the vision laid before us and joined in for the unknown journey ahead, to see and follow where God would lead us.
This journey has changed locations, rural designations, gone from being opposed by the county to being endorsed by the county, came through a good economy to a bad economy, changed contractors, survived a structural redesign post foundation and still is arriving to completion. Many times my heart and my flesh have failed in this journey, only to be picked up, dusted off, and set back on course to believe and chase the vision ahead. I have learned to pray this scripture over my life, Deuteronomy 33:12. “Let the beloved of the lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.” I have failed to be a consistent woman of faith, but I have had some moments of great faith peaks, and unfortunately moments of great fear and doubt. The good news is that God always brings me around, sometimes the short way other times the long way; either way the end result is victory.
Now we are on the precipice of a new day in our history, in just 19 days we open the door to our new ministry center located around the corner from our current location and across the street from our original location. In God’s providence Eastridge will have been located on three out of four corners on one of the main intersections of the Issaquah Plateau, amazing, awesome, beyond, beyond!
In consideration of the great things ahead of us, it has not been without cost. I wish the only cost was money, but the more expensive cost has been the shaping of our will, character, trust, obedience and perseverance. Nothing great comes easy, nothing of significance happens overnight. Every victory on this journey was quickly leveled with another dramatic challenge or crisis, and every one of them required our all.
To me, when I look at this building it is truly amazing. Not just because it is beautiful and miraculous, but because it is small compared to what God has been building in my life and in the lives of many others through the journey. I can’t help but celebrate and think of the joy it brings to our Lord that He helped us build a temporary thing in His name, but at the same time He had a bigger construction site underway in my heart and flesh. In my mind, the greatest Breakthrough is the unseen building of God’s amazing grace over me, in me and through me, and the same for many others. The building is His tool, but we are His people, and in that my joy and strength are renewed for the day ahead!
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11
