Almost exactly 2 years ago, I was sitting at training camp meeting my squad for the first time and preparing to embark on a big adventure. During this past week I got to be a part of training camp again, but as a leader helping racers prepare for their coming journey. It was such a different experience having gone through it already, but God really continued to grow and stretch me in many other ways.
To be honest, I was quite nervous stepping into my role as a trainer/leader this week. My job was to be a part of one squad the whole week and work with other trainers to build relationships with the Racers and to help with the team formation process. It was a stretch for me being one of the leaders and doing things like leading discussions and one-on-ones with Racers and helping make big decisions for the squad. It’s a scary thing trying to walk confidently in something that you don’t always feel very confident in. What I realized though is that even when it’s intimidating to do something we don’t think we can do, God has already equipped us. If it’s His calling for us, we already have the tools to do it, we just have to be willing to step out in the unknown. When my insecurities got in the way I heard myself thinking, “I can’t do this, I’m not a leader, I’m too scared” but was soon built up by others/God saying, “You can do this, you are a leader, He has equipped you.” Our thoughts and lies that we believe often cripple us from doing the things that God has called us to do. If I had let myself believe the lies and be stuck in my own thoughts I might have just let myself shrink away and think that my voice wasn’t worth hearing. During this week at training camp, I didn’t let those thoughts get to me and I pushed myself to step out into what God sees in me. In doing so He showed me the people He wanted me to minister to, He revealed people who needed prayer and a good cry, and in that I was so filled by Him and the squad I was leading. When we simply say “YES” God works through us to touch others.
I think back to so many times where I let the lies get to me. We sometimes get caught in our insecurities and let those define who we are. If you hear lies such as; “you aren’t good enough, you aren’t beautiful, you don’t deserve love, etc.” ask God what HE sees in you. What if we based our whole identity on the truths that God sees in us? How much more would we step out of our comfort zone if we saw ourselves like God saw us? Just remember, if we were stripped of everything that the world defines us as, we would still be enough. To be a son/daughter of God, all we have to do is BE.
