Three years ago I heard about the World Race for the first time. I was sold on the idea of applying until I heard it was for 11 months and was a whole lot of money. I told myself there’s no way I can raise that much money or put my life on hold for 11 months.
Growing up I always envisioned my life being more than working the 9-5 day job then coming home going to bed and doing it all over for the rest of my life. I had always wanted to be someone who would change the world but not sure how. I knew God had something awesome in store for my life but no idea what it was. Throughout high school and college I had the opportunity to go on four mission trips to Central America and Africa. During each of these mission trips I felt God calling me to missions overseas but didn’t know when or where. I thought I’m still in college and I’m planning on attending grad school after completing undergrad at Campbellsville. I had my own expectations and wanted to control my life.
Growing up I had expected I would get a college degree then after graduating college I would get married to a beautiful godly woman and have a good paying job to help support a future family. I expected to have money so I could travel, get season tickets to UK basketball and football games and to live comfortably with. I graduated college 2 years ago and the Lord has been shifting my expectations from what I want to happen to what He wants for my life. After moving to Lexington and searching for a church God led me to Turning Point Church.
This past January we had a three week period of fasting. I decided I’d cut out soda/caffeine and I’d skip lunch. During lunch I usually ate in my car and just spent that time reading scripture and in prayer. So during this fast I spent time during lunch intently asking God where He wanted me in life. I had been working a 9-6 job and was looking for another job or for something else to happen. During this time of crying out to God and asking Him to lead me, the World Race came up. A couple days after the three week fast had ended I was on youtube and I ended up coming across a World Race video. It had been three years since I heard about the World Race, but in that moment the Lord placed it on my heart to apply. I spent the next day in prayer just asking if this was where He really wanted me. He said yes. I applied. A few weeks after applying I had been accepted.
Three years earlier I told myself you can’t raise that much money or take off 11 months of your life. I said, “God, I can’t take off 11 months of my life” but this time I could feel God saying, “Son, this is your life.” This is where God is calling me. Giving up control and your expectations for your life is what I think most people really struggle with. Why should we live in comfort and strive after money when billions have never heard the name of Jesus. There is freedom in giving up your expectations and letting God lead and guide you. God might still bless you with the things you truly desire but if not He’s got something better planned. I still look forward to being a husband and father one day and being able to support financially but now I’m called to be a missionary on the World Race. We are all missionaries whether we are living in the United States or we are overseas. The only thing we should live for is seeing people cross over from death to life. The rest is all a bonus.
Proverbs 16:1
“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”
Proverbs 3:6
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Our Lord is sovereign. Why should we think our plans could even compare to His? Let Him lead. All you gotta do is follow.
