I’ve been home from the race for a little over a month now and am finally settling in to my new normal but it took awhile…
^ my beautiful niece who I finally got to meet!!!
It’s been weird being back in America, being home.
Everything is so different.
The first night at home I slept in my own room, in my own bed all by myself for the first time in 327 days. It was so quiet I could barely sleep. My shower was hot, the air conditioning was cold and I could go places by myself whenever I wanted.
As much as I had craved alone time on the race, the first time I was completely by myself for an extended period of time I was extremely lonely. I’d gotten so used to being around people 24/7 and constantly living in community that I forgot that it wasn’t normal for most people to live like that.
Was living in community hard? Absolutely.
But fighting for friendships, good communication and a healthy community was so worth it.
On the race I experienced real, raw relationships with people I would have never met otherwise because of the culture of a close, constant community. And it was good.
After the nostalgia of being home wore off after a week or so I started feeling a little like I was in limbo. I was back home with my family and was so happy to be with them, but I didn’t really know what to do next. I was going back to my old part time job that I enjoy but it didn’t really feel like enough. I just traveled the world telling people about Jesus and worked on the streets with the homeless and now I’m selling clothes…who does that help?
But of course God knew what He was doing. Having a story to share like going on the World Race gives me an easy way to talk about Jesus and how I got to see incredible things He did all over the world. My first week back at work I was constantly telling people about my trip and what I had done and where I had been and what Jesus had taught me. I even had a co-worker ask if I would pray for her… so I did, right there in the store. And it was incredible.
I had no idea what I was doing going back to this job, but God knew, and He showed me time and time again that He had me where He wanted me.
I know that God has big plans for me and my life. But as always, it’s all about whether I’m willing to give Him my life on a daly basis so that He can lead me through the plans He has made.
The biggest thing I learned on the race is that life is all about the choices you make.
Whether you choose joy or not, whether you choose to believe what God says about you or what the enemy tells you, whether you choose to stand on the promises God has declared over your life or choose to doubt them.
God is always good – I just have to choose to believe that when I don’t see it, and that’s what faith is.
I’m not sure what will come next. I know this current job is only for a season but there is ministry to be done in that place and I am so grateful that God is letting me be used again for His glory and for His kingdom. And when the work is done and the season is over I know God will provide the next job for me.
So, no matter what stage of my life I’m in, what chapter I’m going through, God is still good and He is enough. He always has been and He always will be.
Thank you for following my crazy adventure on the World Race. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for praying for me. Thank you for being apart of my life.
I love you all
– J
