One thing the Lord used significantly during our time in Malaysia was the book Kingdom Journeys by Seth Barnes. Reading it while actively living out a season that felt like a Kingdom journey was incredibly grounding. Barnes emphasized that obedience often comes before understanding, and Malaysia became the clearest example of that truth for me. There were so many moments where I didn’t fully know what God was doing, but I learned to say yes anyway and trust that He was working even when I couldn’t see the full picture. Malaysia became a place where my identity was stretched and refined. Being far from home, out of routine, and immersed in a completely different culture revealed how easily I clung to comfort and familiarity. At the same time, it reminded me that my identity wasn’t found in how “successful” ministry looked or how confident I felt, it was found in being a daughter of God. Barnes talked about how God uses journeys to strip away false security, and I felt that so clearly there. The Lord taught me how to let go of control and rest in who He says I am.

What I loved about Kingdom Journeys was how it reminded me that growth doesn’t always look big or dramatic. Sometimes it looks like showing up again, choosing obedience on hard days, and trusting God in the in-between. Malaysia wasn’t always easy, but it was deeply forming. That season taught me that following Jesus wasn’t about having everything figured out it was about walking with Him daily. Step by step, I learned that when I trusted Him with my yes, He was faithful to do the rest.