So I stood in an REI buying gear and that thought passed through my mind. Things started to become more real because not only are the days until departure getting quicker, my preparation for the trip is starting to amp up. As I felt the shivers run down my spine and to the hand that held my new tent in it, it made me wonder what is giving me so many shivers. Obviously, I know I’ll be leaving friends and family but I also know I’ll be getting a great experience out of it. More than anything, I think what gave me shivers was wondering whether my hopes would come to fruition. I was wondering how the Lord will romance me through this trip, which I expect Him to do, and also how the Lord will show up. I look forward to both of these.
So it got me thinking, what are my expectations for this trip?
Here is a list that I’m guessing will continue to grow over as the trip gets closer and while I’m on the trip. As I grow to know God in deeper ways and trust Him more. This trip has already called me to trust Him in many ways. Relationally – I’m putting friendships on hold, sort of, for this trip that will definitely continue when I go back, but I’ll miss them. I will lose the comforts of community that I’ve become fond of as it has developed over the past five years. It’s become reliable, helpful, and trustworthy. I’m trusting God will provide me with a community and friends that can support and push me how I’ve been thus far. Based on my interactions with my squad so far, I see this happening. I’m excited. Financially – trusting that he’ll provide me with the money I need to get on the trip. Not only to meet financial deadlines for the trip, but also for the gear and personal supplies I’ll need to participate. More information about this later.
So first, I expect to trust God in new ways. Because, truth be told, there’s nothing else I can do and nothing else makes sense. It’s the best option I have. The most reliable.
This will be important as the trip progresses and God challenges me with new relationships and situations. I know my heart will be tested, and I expect that it will lead me to a lot of brokenness. As I’ve perused blogs of current and former world races, one consistent theme is brokenness. I expect my heart to hurt as I see people who are in desperate need for Jesus. People have been or are currently hurt by their situation. People with scars and absent hope. I can see God growing my desires to help them in any way I can. To have compassion for their situation and lives.
I expect this to drive me to a deeper level of prayer and submission to God. For my reliance on and use of prayer to grow exponentially. To know that the most intentional love I can offer is a plea of intersession.
Looking at what I’ve written so far causes me to think that I expect it to be hard. And it will, but it’ll be good. It’ll be maturing, forming, nurturing, sharpening. But it’ll be fun. I expect it to be fun. I do very much look forward to this trip and what God will do. I’ve always had a soul of adventure and travel. Wanting to see new things, go new places. Not settle on where I’ve been my whole life. Austin is great, but there is more to this world than the million people I’ve lived around my entire life. There is more need in the world than I’ve encountered here. Yes, the needs of Austinites are big and important, so too are the needs of the child affected by a virus outbreak in Uganda, an earthquake survivor in Costa Rica, or low caste women in India. As I interact with these people more, I expect God to show me what passions he’s given me to do career work for his kingdom. Theologian Frederick Buechner wrote that “Vocation is where our greatest passion meets the world's greatest need.” I see this happening. Or at the least, giving me a sharper vision.
The Lord will show up is what I know more than anything else. He has called me on this trip and will continue to show me how he provides. I look forward to seeing this every day.
This is what I expect so far, let’s see what other expectations and desires he puts on my heart!
So it got me thinking, what are my expectations for this trip?
Here is a list that I’m guessing will continue to grow over as the trip gets closer and while I’m on the trip. As I grow to know God in deeper ways and trust Him more. This trip has already called me to trust Him in many ways. Relationally – I’m putting friendships on hold, sort of, for this trip that will definitely continue when I go back, but I’ll miss them. I will lose the comforts of community that I’ve become fond of as it has developed over the past five years. It’s become reliable, helpful, and trustworthy. I’m trusting God will provide me with a community and friends that can support and push me how I’ve been thus far. Based on my interactions with my squad so far, I see this happening. I’m excited. Financially – trusting that he’ll provide me with the money I need to get on the trip. Not only to meet financial deadlines for the trip, but also for the gear and personal supplies I’ll need to participate. More information about this later.
So first, I expect to trust God in new ways. Because, truth be told, there’s nothing else I can do and nothing else makes sense. It’s the best option I have. The most reliable.
This will be important as the trip progresses and God challenges me with new relationships and situations. I know my heart will be tested, and I expect that it will lead me to a lot of brokenness. As I’ve perused blogs of current and former world races, one consistent theme is brokenness. I expect my heart to hurt as I see people who are in desperate need for Jesus. People have been or are currently hurt by their situation. People with scars and absent hope. I can see God growing my desires to help them in any way I can. To have compassion for their situation and lives.
I expect this to drive me to a deeper level of prayer and submission to God. For my reliance on and use of prayer to grow exponentially. To know that the most intentional love I can offer is a plea of intersession.
Looking at what I’ve written so far causes me to think that I expect it to be hard. And it will, but it’ll be good. It’ll be maturing, forming, nurturing, sharpening. But it’ll be fun. I expect it to be fun. I do very much look forward to this trip and what God will do. I’ve always had a soul of adventure and travel. Wanting to see new things, go new places. Not settle on where I’ve been my whole life. Austin is great, but there is more to this world than the million people I’ve lived around my entire life. There is more need in the world than I’ve encountered here. Yes, the needs of Austinites are big and important, so too are the needs of the child affected by a virus outbreak in Uganda, an earthquake survivor in Costa Rica, or low caste women in India. As I interact with these people more, I expect God to show me what passions he’s given me to do career work for his kingdom. Theologian Frederick Buechner wrote that “Vocation is where our greatest passion meets the world's greatest need.” I see this happening. Or at the least, giving me a sharper vision.
The Lord will show up is what I know more than anything else. He has called me on this trip and will continue to show me how he provides. I look forward to seeing this every day.
This is what I expect so far, let’s see what other expectations and desires he puts on my heart!
Here's the itemized list.
1. Trust more, with community and finances.
2. Greater brokeness through compassion for those in the world.
3. Deeper reliance on deependence through prayer as God grows my compassion for people.
4. Seeing the needs of the world.
5. Having fun traveling and seeing the world.
6. Better understanding how God wants to use my giftings and passions to do his work.
