The World Race is possibly the most selfish and prideful thing I have ever done.
I started out on this journey a little less than a month ago with the misconception that I was actually going to do something for others and for myself. I was pumped to have the opportunity to travel to so many different countries and affect so many people groups. I was going to minister to broken people. I was going to help people build churches and schools and provide resources that aren’t usually available to them. I was going to tell them about Jesus. I wasn’t going to talk about change, I was going to “be the change”. I was going to grow in my relationship with God and learn more about who I am in Christ.
The thing about missions trips is that the majority of people who go on them believe this. -myself included. I went in to this thing believing that I would be the change. That I would make a difference. It’s only taken me a short amount of time out here to realize that that isn’t enough. I’m not enough. I say that the World Race is the most selfish and prideful thing I have ever done because in someways I did it for me. I did it to feed my pride. I was proud that I was willing to give up so much. I was proud of the fact that I wanted to help people. I was proud that I had listened to God and followed His call. I was selfish because I wanted to keep all that glory. I wanted people to look at me and say “Man, Grace is really doing something.” or “Grace, I’m so proud of you for listening to God.” I want the praise and that is not easy to admit.
The thing about missions trips is that if you go in your own power it’s just a trip. Sure you might help some people and even lead them to a relationship with Christ. You might see some cool things and realize some things about yourself that you never would have otherwise. But what is your mission? To feel better that you didn’t completely spend your whole life in a little box? To have others tell you that they think it’s so cool what you are doing? To try to change the world with human power?
The thing about missions trips is that they really don’t exist. The World Race is just 11 months of me living life in 11 different countries. I could spend this entire year abroad and have nothing extraordinary happen. I could grow and change but for what? To come back and go back to how life was in the States? What is the point? (I’m so excited to tell you!) 🙂
The thing about missions trips is that if you let Him, God can and will rock your world. If you allow Him to take control He’ll blow your mind. He will start being the change. And then He’ll let you see how He is the change in other people. He might tell you to go tell someone else about your change and then all the sudden you see that this missions trip has absolutely nothing to do with you and everything to do with Him. And once it becomes about Him, man do things start shifting. Suddenly your expectations grow and your trust moves from human strength to the supernatural power of God. Suddenly you no longer want everyone to talk about how great it is what you are doing and you want them to talk about how great the God is who offers us so much. Suddenly you are walking in freedom from pride and selfishness because God covers you with His strength and His love and His power. Suddenly you realize that every gift you have is truly a GIFT. The fun part about that is you get to figure out how to use it to bring people to Him. It’s this awesome never ending cycle. THIS is what it means to make disciples. This is why God gave you that huge heart. For Him.
The thing about missions trips is you don’t have to actually go on one to experience one. You can allow God to be the change in you right now. If I can give you any words about that it would be, Don’t wait. Don’t wait to let Him turn your world upside down. Don’t wait to let him show you your brokenness so that He can make you whole. Don’t wait to take a missions trip to your own heart.
The thing about missions trips is that God is patiently waiting for you.
DON’T WAIT.
