Christian Union update from Courtney in Year 14

Hi everyone!

Due to the ongoing pandemic, our CU calendar was unfortunately cut short. Our year at CU consisted of lots of testimonies, talks, prayer meetings and of course our highly anticipated CU weekend at Castlewellan Castle in October.

Since lock down, CU has been continuing to support our members and encourage people through our new Senior CU Instagram page @ba_senior_cu.

This year was a very special year for me at CU; knowing it was my last made me all the more thankful for the blessing CU has been for me and my peers over the past 7 years at Ballymena Academy. The encouragement and support that the CU network in school has given me is something I will cherish forever.

Throughout the past 7 years, CU has been a constant reminder to me about how faithful God is. He provided me with Christian friends who spur me on in my faith daily and who I’ve had the blessing of fellowship with for 7 years at CU.
However, now, unlike during the school year, I don’t have CU to go to every week, but this doesn’t mean my faith has to struggle. God hasn’t changed, He is still constant. Hebrews 13v8 reminds us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.

Maybe, like me, you have been wondering what the purpose is in our current situation regarding Covid 19. Maybe you too are struggling with not getting to cuddle your loved ones or not being able to have what we used to know as a normal interaction.
When I’m struggling, I look to God. I know He is faithful. I know that I am loved and for me that is enough. I look at the bible and I constantly read of how faithful God has been throughout the generations. How He always has been working for the good of those who love Him.
God has been faithful, and that will never change. He has a purpose for every one of our struggles, despite how hard it is to see that purpose currently. (Jeremiah 29v11 ” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”)

In the well known hymn, “Because he lives”, I feel the reason I find peace in these difficult circumstances is summarised perfectly, it says “God sent His Son,
they called Him Jesus
He came to love heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives

Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives”

I pray you are all keeping safe and finding peace in the midst of the chaos.
Courtney, Year 14.