Growing up in Niger

My name is Elise, and I am 16 years old. I’ve been growing up in Niger, where my family works. Over this past school year, I have had the opportunity to step into many leadership roles within the expat community that have truly stretched and grown me as a person and in my faith.

In having so many commitments, though, I found myself never getting a break and constantly feeling drained. My prayers at night for others were so long that I fell asleep before praying for myself. My friends warned me not to burn out, and for a while I was fine, but eventually I began feeling I had no more to give.

During that time, Psalm 90:13-17 came up in my devotions, which starts with, “Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.” That was exactly how I was feeling, and I longed for God’s compassion and joy to fill me. I began talking to God constantly after that, asking Him to sustain me as I served.

Slowly, serving became so much better as I saw my relationship with God and with those I was serving change completely. It took me almost burning out to realize that as I give to others, so abundantly more does God give to me.

Pray for Elise as she continues to lean on God for strength and joy as she develops her leadership skills.
Praise God for the new generation of leaders He is raising up!

This story is part of On Mission Together (OMT) May-June 2019 issue.
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