With only 2 months left, I’m coming to the end of this adventure. Writing a blog about all the things God has taught me through the race would be appropriate, but quite honestly that’s an overwhelming endeavor. As I thought about everything I’ve learned, attempting to formulate this “end of the race” blog I realized I had the whole puzzle. Each month and each lesson of love God had for me in each country, was a piece of the puzzle. And now that I’m nearly finished with only one more country to go, I’m starting to see the full picture.
God has faithfully met me in each and every country I’ve found myself in this year. He’s taught me why I need community so much and he’s taught me how to trust even when it hurts. He’s shown me what it looks like to walk in love and to walk in freedom.I’ve learned a whole lot about pursuing people like Jesus does. And I’ve learned that by abiding in Him there is a deeper peace and a joy that transcends every and any circumstance.
I’ve been reminded over and over and over again that my God is unfathomably big.
I’ve experienced God in the most mundane moments and in the moments of miracles. And I know He is the same God in every moment. He is always sovereign. Even in the villages where kids are going hungry and in the bars where women are selling their bodies. I know that He is still God and He is still good.
I could go on, but I think there may be hundreds of pieces to this puzzle of things I’ve learned. What I will say though is that everything I learned this year has taught me more about who God is, his character, his kingdom, and his love. And because I’ve learned so much more about who my Father is, I have learned so much more about who I am because of Him.
10 months ago I didn’t know that I didn’t know who I was in Christ. Today I am confident that
the Lord has invited me into his kingdom work. I am confident that He has equipped me and that He has a plan for using me. My life with Jesus is unpredictable but I like it that way. As Francis Chan writes; “If life were stable I would never need Gods’ help. Since it’s not, I reach out for him regularly. I am thankful for the unknowns and that I don’t have control because it makes me run to God.”
The race has challenged me, I’ve run to God every single day, it has pushed me to the end of myself and into complete dependence on God. The intimacy I’ve found with Him as a result is something I hope I never lose.
I am so much more in love with Jesus today than I was 274 days ago when I stepped on a plane to begin this adventure. How could I not be, he took me around the world to tell me he loves me. I came to tell people how much He loves them, yet every day He reminded me of the very same thing.
