A New Chapter
A Dryer Family Update + A Prayer Worth Repeating
Well, friends! Chances are you forgot you were even subscribed to this newsletter. It’s been a long time! There has certainly been no lack of excitement around here—in fact, quite the opposite. I have too much to say for one little newsletter that I haven’t quite known how to fit it all in. Suffice it to say, so much will be left unsaid for now. If I had to choose four words to sum up the last several months, though, it would be something like this: God’s plans are WILD.
A little over a month ago, the Dryer clan landed in our new home, Kenai, Alaska! My husband has joined the pastoral staff at Kenai New Life, and we are thrilled! When we left Alaska in 2020, we hoped to return some day, but honestly, I thought it would be waaaaay down the road. Again I say, God’s plans are wild.
It’s been a very bittersweet few months as we had to say goodbye to all of our family and so many friends. We dug deep roots in Edmond, which made leaving even harder, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m grateful for every painful goodbye because it meant we loved and were loved well. To all our Okie family, we love and miss you more than you know!
We are settling in well to our new life in Alaska and making new friends already. The kids are excited to be “back in our home state,” as they say (they were all born in AK). We are grateful to the Lord for leading us and for the opportunity to minister in this place, to which we feel a deep calling.
There is so much more I want to say, but for now I want to share just one brief prayer that has been like a compass for my heart over the last several months.
Back in January, when Josh and I were prayerfully considering the opportunity here in Alaska and seeking the Lord’s will for our family, I picked up a Catherine Marshall book called Beyond Our Selves. My best friend had thrifted and gifted this book to me several years ago, and I had only skimmed it. For some reason (most likely the Holy Spirit), I was compelled to begin reading the book in that moment. As I was praying about moving back to Alaska, I felt like I was on a teeter-totter.
I know we are called to Alaska.
But all of our family is here.
This really could be God’s plan for our lives. I’ve done this before, and I can do it again.
But how could we leave our amazing church and jobs and friends?
I know there is joy in obedience. I truly want to WANT to obey God’s call.
But it’s so far away and such a big change. How could we do this?
And then I read this simple, eight-word prayer in Catherine Marshall’s book: “Lord, I am willing to be made willing.”
“And there one lets the matter rest for days or weeks, doing no forcing or straining, giving God time to change the emotional climate at deep levels in the personality.” - Catherine Marshall
It became like a breath prayer to me. When my mind would race or spiral or worry, I would remind myself and the Lord, “I am willing to be made willing.”
In the days and weeks that have followed, that prayer has followed me. When I don’t feel like obeying, when I don’t feel like doing the next right thing, when I don’t feel like obedience is worth it, I’m reminded to posture my heart once again: Lord, I am willing to be made willing.
“Surely we have misunderstood Christianity if we think God wants us to obey Him reluctantly.” - Catherine Marshall
To whatever the Lord is calling you,
In whichever direction He is leading you,
No matter the varying emotions you may feel along the way,
I encourage you to make this your prayer:
Lord, I am willing to be made willing.
Who knows, you might just find out that His plans are wild, but really really good. And maybe He ends up answering a prayer you prayed long ago and completely forgot about! (Wink, wink…more on that in the next newsletter.)
Final Thoughts
This newsletter has been an avenue for me to share snippets of what the Lord is teaching me as well as books and other resources I’m enjoying. Since we’ve (once again) moved away from many loved ones and because I don’t use social media, I intend to share some life and family updates here as well. Enjoy a little photo gallery of our life lately!
Thanks for reading! I always love to hear back from you, so please reply to this email or leave a comment on Substack (with the button below) if you want to say hey! Big hugs from Alaska!
— Lindsay
Lindsay, You are a remarkable lady of The Lord and someone whom I look up to, learn from and am inspired by. I’m praying for you as your family undertakes this new journey. Even though you are so far away, I support you 100%. I love you baby girl.
Wow! Didn’t expect you back in Alaska so soon! Somehow knew it would happen though! I can totally relate to “Being willing to be willing” as that is how we felt when God called us to Alaska from Minnesota and family and friends! God is so Good! Blessings in your new Adventure of obedience!