Courage and Endurance

Chelsea Chaisson
Jan 4, 2018
7 min read

I pray everyone would say “Yes” to the great adventure of life God opens before us! I have been waiting for this moment for many years. I have said to the Lord, “I surrender all”, many times…but it seems as though this time, He meant it. I recently released my childhood, hometown, parents, home church of 12 years, dear friends and family, vehicles, ministries, clothes, artwork I’ve collected…ALL. My hair was one of the last things of mine to go. I surrendered even my appearance unto the Lord. Some may say, “He would never ask you to do that”. I just laugh because I am like, “oh yes He would”. We serve a big God! Worship fitting for Him will be outright HUGE. We will do big, wild, and crazy things for the one we love and are most known and loved by. The Lord is my home now. The Lord is my covering. The Lord is my manna (daily bread). He is my friend. He is my family. He has become truly, my everything. This is the first time in the physical my outlandish love for God has been up for display. If you knew my walk with God throughout these years, you would have seen a surrender of many things. It may sound too radical to some and so I guess that’s why our internal relationships with God are specially guarded to where no man can ever penetrate in or understand the inner workings…only God searches out our hearts and reveals all motives. In my Spirit, I can truly endure all things for it is Christ’s strength in me. These past few months preparing to say “goodbye” to one season to say “hello” into the next (aloha aloha)…it has been beautiful, sentimental, memorable, sad, scary, exciting, everything imaginable. I have seen God literally give me what I need to the T. I would lift up a request to Him, and in HIS timing…this is key here, He would LITERALLY provide and prove again to me His faithfulness and how pointless it is to get all worked up, worried, or want control. He got this. Let me repeat this, GOD GOT THIS. I write this as I fly above the clouds. My recent few months of this journey (Mission to the Pacific, YWAM, Selling and giving ALL to answer the CALL) thus far has been quite similar to my day in the airport and now in the sky. Last night I had a knowing that the Lord would wake me up at 4:02. This morning can you believe He legit woke me up at 3:58 but I didn’t get out of bed until 4:02 HA. I spent time with Him reading, worshipping, praying, and processing. I legit ate meat and something sweet as break-fast. Then I went back to sleep a few hours later for a few hours. During my quick siesta, I had wild dreams that in no way felt spiritually beneficial- they more like revealed some strange fears that perhaps the enemy has tried to throw my way (I WILL NOT BITE HIS BAIT). After I woke, I ate again, this time with my family. I quickly got dressed, spoke life into “the grands” (my niece and nephews as I call them), and we were off. Our car ride to the airport was filled with sweet moments and a bit of a Lilo and Stitch Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride dance party. I said “A BIENTOT” to my family at the road and entered in. My bags were heavy and I was thrilled to release some to Delta for a bit. There was hardly a line for the security check point and by the time I went to the Gate, all were almost boarded, and so I just stepped right in, but was stopped by an attendant with a new ticket and seat placement, and then I crossed over onto the plane…it felt like one fluid motion. Something I have been doing for years, something like clockwork from the Lord. The seat I found myself in was right behind first class, but with a roomy-ness I much appreciated. The attendant came by and gave me an apple, almonds, sun chips, and water…thus the beginning of a great adventure. I write all of this to tell you that my journey, and perhaps all Christians’ journeys can seem to flow in such a way. In the WORD God does say that He prepares a table for us. We call Him CREATOR…I see a word within a word here, I see the word EAT/ATE…Creator prepares good things for us to simply enter into…smooth sailing it may seem but in all reality, the months before “crossing over” the Lord has had me completely empty myself for Him. He has asked me hard questions. He has pushed me to endure and to not “check out”…now, as I sit on this plane, look out into the clouds, I see a new vantage point of the Sun so thick and strong with fierce light and warmth that I can’t help but be amazed at how much our lives truly can be like this in/with our Lord. He says, come. We leave all to answer the call. He says forsake all else, we hug them at the curb. He says check in and drop your bags (your agenda, your plans, your dreams, your hopes, and your “control”)…we feel less heavy and get a little pep in our step. We go through security-He cleanses our Spirit, gives us a new heart, new desires, new dreams, erases all generational curses, kills people pleasing, destroys fear, and won’t let anything harmful return with us on the other side. Then we make it to the other side. We walk in step with the flow around us. We arrive at one destination only to be “reassigned”…it adds a little excitement as we know there has to be some “bigger” reason…After looking at my spot (I typically vote for the aisle seats) I found myself with such large space and at the window with the ability and option to control two windows (views of the heavens). My seat buddies are peaceful, resting, reading, eating, stories are inside of them and they need to share them. We chat a bit and I am encouraged to see such different people all getting along in unity. The bag I do have with me has all that I need to make a restful journey, blow up pillow, blanket, Spark, Advobar, gum, letters of inspiration and encouragement from loved ones and the season I leave behind, and headphones. God helps us travel light and efficient. He also has food “we don’t yet know of” prepared in advance. I was able to rest and receive. Looking out of the window, I not only notice the warm sun, but I notice other planes zooming by with such speed and determination…there are people in there, going in the opposite direction, seemingly, yet still on a journey and up in the clouds as I. The main thing has been getting up here. Getting past the layers of air and cloud to reach that altitude fit for flying. It hardly feels like we are soaring. We are not striving and yet all aboard know that in a few moments we will arrive at a new place with new people, new purpose, and new positions. Some will make their stop with me at my first layover in LA…others will journey onwards. I see people, Christian brothers and sisters, and the Christian walk similar to this flight play by play. The main thing is coming up higher with the Lord, seeing things from His view. Up in the sky, we may meet one others, to laugh, play, encourage…then we may all arrive at different points. We are no different, not in “class” or color…not to the Lord. We are all passengers in for a ride of our life, in the clouds of all places. We see others on different planes/vehicles traveling fast nearby, we aren’t to judge one another…we have no clue where they are headed and why, but we do have this in common, we are all in the sky, near the sun…above the noise, wind, rain, and sea. We are all pilgrims and the way has been made for us. There were logistics, planning, preparing, processing, releasing, packing, partying, praying, resting, burning, SO MUCH before ever having arrived at this point (plane)…now, it is all worth it. I am up in the air, truly without a care. I know I am cared for and that my Creator is near. All I need do now is REST and soon ENTER IN. Let me encourage you…in still courage in you…as I have received much from the Lord to even be stepping out in this way. In the Word it says to seek first the kingdom of Heaven and all else will be added unto us. We really aren’t alive until we die. We lose to gain. We surrender to receive. Saying yes to Jesus is saying No to ourselves. It is no longer our lives, our money, our time…it’s all on His time, in His way, with His provision, with His protection, with His help…and life is the better for it. Let him be your pilot, flight attendant, and seat buddy…and enjoy (IN JOY), with no pressure (but within His PRESENCE) get on the plane. Say Yes to Jesus. Endure the mundane or the pain (take up your cross) and follow Him. Where has he called you? When? Why? What?...Ask Him. He says to seek Him with all whole heart and we WILL find Him. Let Him wake you up so you can commune with Him…eat with Him, sing to Him…He will make your path straight and will never leave nor forsake you. Lastly: Noah got in the boat. The Lord closed the door of the ark behind him. Just enter in and let Jesus handle it. SOME PHOTOS FROM THE JOURNEY a few days or weeks pre plane: The Lord had me attend Spanish churches in Houma region throughout November..ask me about what I learned...SO MUCH

STILL fundraising even as I am heading to KONA. I need the Lord to provide $6,000, will you pray about helping send support/ play my game (chart filled could raise almost 90% of funds needed for THE YWAM OUTREACH ON SHIPS PHASE

Dec 16, 2nd hair cut in 2017 (these flowers and teddy were in Salon!

Preview of my pep talk with the Lord before the shave. As you read, breathe:

Lord, Why my hair?

That sounded like I asked, Why am I here?

I hear you say, Why do I care? Years of not cutting it to two major trims in one season maybe it’s for the hair dresser? Maybe it’s bc I’ve lived in fear for too long! BREATHE 🎶 TEDDY BEAR principle What is cut grows back Father prunes and cuts for stronger growth Live like I’m in Hawaii before I actually am Promised land living even in the desert or wilderness Kingdom living in a democracy