A letter from May 30, 2023

Sup Samuel This is your past self, and by now you probably have your undergraduate degree and are working on your graduate degree. Kudos dude and praise God. On that note, If there were some things I need to say to my future self the biggest word-for-thought I would say is this: see God's hands in everything. Ironically, writing to your past self is easier than your future self, but the reality is that we both know, you got stuff you need to work on. Things such as patterns of unhealthy thinking, shame over past mistakes, and growing in depth, breadth, length, and width of knowledge of the love of God in Christ Jesus. However, hopefully at this point in your life God has made it clear to you whether the direction he wants for you is church planting or PHD work in seminary. Theologian or Pastor, we will see how God guides you. Who knows? Maybe both. That'd be dope. The little things bro. That is what I want you to know. To know who put them there, who orchestrates them, and who is sovereign over them. Whether it be the coffee mug on this table I write on currently or the sun I see out the window that basks in my eyes. Take joy in them, take peace in them, your father put them there for a reason. A good reason. Do you trust this now? Well right now, in my own weakness I am struggling to compartmentalize all that of creation and his sovereignty into systematic and understandable digestible pieces of spiritual meat, but the greater reality is that trying to understand the expanse of God, as if he is an ocean, to that of my human mind-a bucket. It simply is not possible amigo. But follow this, sink into that ocean for that is where is grace lays, in the magnitude of the cross. But those things that you need to work on, as much as you want to fix them, don't rely on your own strength. You're setting yourself up for failure. Instead, trust in the promise God gives us by his Holy Spirit. Know the good work he has started in you, he will bring it to completion on the day of restoration when Jesus comes back for us. Sanctification is a hard but beautiful process, it doesn't mean you won't have struggles or sin, but that the grace of God (in which you are experiencing every waking moment) is changing your heart and who you are. Take immense joy in that dude! God is not done with you, coming for your past self and all his troubles. Pretty sure at this point that this isn't even me speaking bro, I'm just preaching! This is all the Holy Spirit! Keep going! Keep running the race! Cling to Christ! I don't know much, but I know a few things. One of these things is the gospel, and Reid always told us, "Preach it to yourself just as much as you preach it to others if not more!". So here it is for when you are tempted to despair. Jesus went to that cross for us, and because of him you can now approach the throne of God boldly. Redeeming love has been our theme, and will be till we die. Take heart, for he has overcome the world and the same message he gives to me now, he gives to you in the future, "you are mine son". I don't really know how to end this letter as if I was writing a sermon in some multi-faceted manner in a tense speaking to a future self, so remember not our words but I will leave you with God's eternal word: "Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; for my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:9 Your past self of 2023, Samuel Godoy