I Never Prayed for Hawaii, but God Knew.

“I guess I’ll have to quit. I have no hope to give, and working for a company where part the mission is to spread hope puts me on the outs."

I had just received devastating news that turned my world upside down. Life as I knew it would never be the same, and I was spiraling on my bathroom floor.

I wish I could tell you that I was braver in that moment, but I wasn’t. I was confused and thinking of all the ways I could make myself feel better. The only thing was, none of what I was thinking honored God.

In the middle of my spiraling, I had this moment: “Wait, God, I know You. I’ve seen Your goodness in my life.”

I vowed not to do any of the unhealthy things I was thinking of doing, including walking away from my work in sharing hope. But I said a desperate prayer.

“God, help me walk this out in a way that honors You because I just can’t.”

I got up from that bathroom floor a new woman. A stronger woman. Still an imperfect human, but now reliant on what God was going to do and not what Reyna could do.

Instead of spending the days ahead in bed, I decided to do what I tell others to do when times are hard. Get out and serve.

I reached out to a prison ministry I had worked with in the past, Bill Glass Prison Ministries.

“Hey, I have some extra time on my hands these days. If I can help in any way, let me know.”

“Sure! We have some prisons in California we need a speaker at.”

“Wow, I’ve never been that far.”

When no one knew what I was going through behind closed doors, there I was, spreading hope on some of the toughest prison yards in California.

One guy came up to me and said, “When I see groups like this come, I never stay on the yard, but I saw you, and I wanted to hear the rest of your story.”

In the middle of the darkest time of my life, I told prisoners that I was a daughter of a prisoner, and I once promised I’d never visit my dad again. But when I gave my life to Jesus, He changed everything and called me back to the place I thought I’d never go: prison, to visit my dad.

God restored our relationship and, to our surprise, pardoned my dad.

Prison yard after prison yard, I watched God work through the woman only He could pick up off that bathroom floor. Yard after yard came healing in a way I never anticipated.

God was showing me I still had hope to give because He's the hope in me.

It was on a prison yard that I made a new friend in another woman who was also there to serve. She wore a smile and flower in her hair. She always encouraged me after I spoke. “Great job, Reyna,” she’d say while giving me a big hug. She recently visited Houston, and took me to dinner.

Midway through our meal, she stopped and said, “I have a question for you, Reyna.”

“Yes, what’s up?”

“I’m going to Hawaii for two weeks and would love for you to join me. I’ll take care of everything.”

I couldn’t speak. The dream vacation I’d never even had the guts to pray for was right in front of me.

There's a verse in the bible, Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” I never prayed for Hawaii, but God knew.

The tears started coming down my face. She looked at me and said, “I guess that’s a yes.”

I nodded, and she said, “Now you’re going to make me cry.” We both sat there in a busy restaurant and just cried. “I felt like God wanted me to invite you, Reyna. He loves you.”

As I drove away from the restaurant, I couldn’t help but think of the night I was on the verge of pushing the self-destruct button on my life and walking away from everything I knew.

“I have no hope to give.” What a lie from the enemy.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

I was in a weak and desperate moment. Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you’re there now. In that moment, by the grace of God, I decided to surrender everything to Jesus. I didn’t know what would come next, and I definitely couldn’t anticipate an invitation to Hawaii.

 But that’s what faith is all about: trusting God when you don’t understand.

Whatever you’re walking through right now, I pray that you will keep your eyes on Jesus. Choose to honor Him through your words and actions, and let Him show you what’s next. Trusting Him with my life has been the greatest adventure. It’s not without disappointment, and it’s not without pain, but it's with a God who walks with me through it all. And yes, He’s walking with you too.

The question for you is, will you let Him lead the way?

I’m glad I did, He led me to Hawaii!

I’m rooting for you. 

With love, 

Your friend, 

Reyna