If you would have asked my past self to guess where I would be now, days away from 24years old – I wouldn’t have been able to dream up my answer.
I am on a plane, by myself, yet surrounded by a sea of strangers. I am flying to Europe, chasing after a calling that clung onto me a little over a year ago.
Who am I?
Who is this girl bold enough to hop on an international flight by herself in route to visit four countries in two months – solo.
Who is this girl that isn’t letting fear dictate her future?
Isn’t this the same girl who is STILL afraid of the dark when she is in her Colorado, Mountains?
Isn’t this the same girl who has an irrational fear that she is going to get eaten by a vicious animal as soon as the sky grays?
Isn’t this the same girl who was at first timid to travel on an all girls team last year due to the lack of “security”?
If it is the same girl, then how in the world can she be confident enough to literally travel the world by herself?
There is only one answer: God.
When I look in the mirror, I see that girl.
That girl with the childhood fears still clinging to her, who is also bold enough to go where she feels the Lord has called her.
I never would have thought that I would experience a purpose bigger than my fear. Yet, I definitely serve a powerful God. A God who is powerful enough to convince a scared of the dark small town girl, to get on a plane and travel to Eastern Europe by herself – all because of a sense of calling.
It’s crazy what we do for a sense of purpose isn’t it? What we do for a that deep rooted sense of conviction?
It’s also crazy to see what we can do when we stop limiting ourselves by our fear, and simply just listen to our Creator.
You want to know something?
I am still afraid at times.
God didn’t magically poof away any sense of insecurity that traveling internationally alone as a woman brings. Believe me, I still have all the doubts and fears you could imagine!
I logically know that I could very well get raped, kidnappped, sold into sex slavery, robbed, you name it! But, I also know that I serve a God who is bigger than my fears. I know that fear is not from Him, and therefore should not and will not dictate my future.
Now I’m not telling all of you to go jump on a plane by yourselves, possibly placing yourselves in harms way just for the fun of it… But, what I will tell you is this – if you feel like the Holy Spirit is convicting you to do something, you very well should just do it.
Obedience is much more important than comfort, and walking in His will for your life is much greater than anything that false security can bring.
I also know this, we serve a powerful God who will show up in big ways if you simply surrender yourself to Him and let Him use you.
So, to this girl looking back at me in the mirror: I can’t promise you safety, and certainly can’t promise you comfort. Yet, I can promise you this: because you are walking in obedience, this trip will somehow be glorifying to the Lord and that’s enough.
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discourage, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
