Under His Wings: Reflections from Norway

At the time of this writing, I'm about to leave one of the most beautiful countries in the world after a wonderful three-week vacation.

It wasn't my first visit to Norway, but it was by far the most breathtaking one when it comes to experiencing the country's incredible natural beauty.

I arrived in Oslo by ferry from Germany on 15 June. From there, I travelled by train to Trondheim before boarding a Hurtigruten ship to Bergen. Afterwards, I returned to Oslo by train, making it a wonderful "sail and rail" journey. I especially enjoyed the scenic train ride north, and of course the unforgettable voyage along the majestic fjords.

The countless fjords, rugged mountains, and little islands weren't just beautiful to look at—they had a calming effect on me. I could have sat there for hours, simply taking it all in. Surrounded by such magnificent scenery, I felt completely at peace and couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of God's creation.

After spending the weekend in Oslo, I flew far north to Kirkenes and boarded another Hurtigruten ship, this time sailing south to Svolvær in the Lofoten Islands. It was my very first visit to Northern Norway (Finnmark), and although the weather was rather cloudy, with occasional rain, I was simply amazed by the beauty of the coastline and the magic of the midnight sun. In fact, I didn't feel like leaving the ship at all!

From the Lofoten Islands, I flew back to Oslo, where I went to visit my dear friend Stine Gro, who lives not too far away. After spending a few wonderful days together, we travelled to Telemark in the southwest of the country to attend the "Living Water" camp meeting, a ministry similar to the one I am involved with in Germany.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The setting was absolutely beautiful, and around 500 people attended from Norway as well as other parts of Europe. The messages were inspiring and Spirit-filled, and I especially appreciated the ministry of the two speakers, Adam Ramdin from the UK and Florian Walther from the United States.

Now it's time to make my way back to the airport, and, God willing, I'll be landing back in good old Brussels later this evening—my heart full of memories from an unforgettable journey.

There is one spiritual lesson that has stood out to me during these past three weeks. Through a series of circumstances, I rediscovered the profound meaning of Proverbs 3:5–6:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

I memorised these verses many years ago, but I came to realise that I had never truly lived out their full meaning. Yes, I need to trust the Lord with all my heart—in every area of my life—and not rely on my own understanding, my own reasoning, or my limited perspective on the things that happen to me.

Instead, I simply need to acknowledge Him in all my ways, trusting that He knows far more than I do. And as I do, He will faithfully direct my path exactly as He intends.