“But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
~1 Corinthians 15:57-58~
What qualities define who a person is? Are they unfortunate life experiences or thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime adventures? Maybe what decides who we are includes financial security or lack thereof. What or who gets to choose who we are and who we are going to be? In a broken world controlled by selfish desires, we often see judgment based on superficial realities. People get hurt by trying to fit a mold that they were not created to fill. If we were created to be unique individuals, shouldn’t we consider the creator’s opinion of how we are supposed to be? We were all created for a purpose. Do not get me wrong, I am still trying to find out who I am. I am no longer who I was, and I thank Jesus Christ for that.
I will be twenty-five this year and I am from New Castle, Indiana. I am a Christian, and I am proud to be a follower of Jesus. That wasn’t always the case, though. I was raised as a preacher’s daughter, which carries unique and emotional challenges. I felt the need to have my life together and fix all of the problems that came my way alone. People looked up to my family and I, and I could not let myself show my feelings. I found myself pretending to be happy on the outside while something was missing in my heart. I knew of Jesus, but I didn’t know Him on a personal level. I struggled with pride and compared myself to those around me in a negative way.
Then, I asked God to forgive me for doubting Him and acknowledged that I believed that Jesus had died on the cross as a sacrifice in my place that I may be free from the chains of sin and worldly desires. My life has never been the same. Being a Christian does not mean that my life is easy. I have experienced a lot of heartache, which includes losing my mother in 2012. I am not perfect, and I make mistakes. I have battled with depression and anxiety when I chose to make my own plans instead of trusting God. Satan tries to come into our lives to steal our joy, kill our hopes, and destroy any meaningful relationships that lead us closer to God. Jesus instructs us to not be afraid, because He is always going to be with us. He will guide us if we ask Him to and believe that He will lead. God’s plans are much greater than our own. He knows what tomorrow will bring. He is our creator, and He knows the plan for our lives.
When God called me to go on the World Race with the interdenominational missions organization Adventures in Missions, I thought He had made a mistake. Who am I that God would choose me to spend eleven months in eleven countries to share His hope, love, and grace to His beloved children who are hurting. I have a passion for missions and have hoped to one day travel to experience different cultures while meeting new people. I could never have imagined an opportunity like the World Race. For the past few years I have worked in the fields of special education and home health care. I studied Psychology in college with a dream of becoming a Christian counselor. God has changed my plans, and I have found myself in the place of complete surrender. I will go where He leads me. I trust that His will is going to be done in and through me. He will provide.
God is the only one who gets to define who I am and who I am going to be. He continues to shape me daily through trials and His grace. He calls me His beloved daughter. I learn more about Him and develop a stronger relationship with Him each day. It is only by His grace and love that I have become who I am. I cannot wait to see what God has planned as I participate in the World Race.
“Lord, I will trust in You with all my heart. I will not lean on the old way of doing things nor will I make decisions apart from You. In all my actions I will acknowledge You, and You will direct my paths. I will not do things my own way nor prize my opinions over Yours.”
~Proverbs 3:5-7 (The Prayer Bible: A Modern Translation)
Is God asking you to support this trip? Are you willing to be a Prayer Warrior and surround the team with love? Do you feel called to support this trip with a financial gift? By clicking the link at the top of the page you can make a huge difference in lives of people all over the world who need Jesus. Please keep the team and I in your prayers throughout the fundraising process and during The World Race as we allow God to work in and through us. Thank you.
