Each racer – future, current, or alumni – took a giant step of obedience. And each of us has a very different story in regards to what that looks like in our lives. No matter what your story of obedience (or delayed obedience) looks like, that single act of obedience leads us somewhere. Yes, to the race, to our squad family, to the world, to those eleven nations we love so dearly, but someplace else. Someplace beautiful and unexpected. It leads us to joy.
Walking obediently in His grace leads us to joy.
JOY.
But, in the past week or so, I’ve lost sight of that joy. I’ve let document deadlines, setting up immunization appointments, finding the right time to tell my youth girls, family reactions to the news of this journey, fears and insecurities about fitting with my squad, work, lesson planning, paper grading, and so many other things, distract me from this joy. This beautiful joy that comes as a result of walking obediently in God’s grace and experiencing His provision.
I’ve ignored it.
And as I’ve ignored it, the pressures of life have increased and the need and desire for rest has intensified. Tonight, for some reason, I had the urge to listen to a Chris Tomlin song that I don’t normally listen to, Lord, I Need You. In the moments of singing the song, I realized that’s what my heart and mind needed – God, the Lord, my heavenly Father. I needed Him to take hold of my heart and remind me of His joy.
And He did just that as I thought back on all of His beautiful provision, which I want to share with you. This blog is supposed to be about our journeys on the Race, and honestly, the journey doesn’t begin when you launch. It starts when God calls and you follow through with obedience.
So, why wouldn’t I let you know about the things that only He could do?!
1. When I first applied for the Race, I knew it probably meant no teaching for a really long time and finding odd jobs to do instead. The day I was supposed to interview for a morning nanny job, the administrators at a local high school called and offered me a teaching position. They offered it one week before the school year started, knowing full well in advance about the WR and were (and still are) supportive of the experience. To top it off, the classes I teach are only semester long classes, so I won’t be abandoning my students, which was something I don’t think I could’ve done. And the pay will cover some of the pre-launch prep, which is a financial blessing. God surprised me with that one, but He wasn’t done yet.
2. Got my big pack (internal frame backpack) for FREE from a friend of a friend. That’s one less expense coming out of funds I don’t entirely have. Plus, the bag is quite cool!
3. A little over $1,500 in my account (or about to be once a certain check gets there) in just 2 short weeks. I got accepted late in the game, and here I am with a good chunk towards my first deadline of $3,500, that is just one week away. The donations from family, friends, and friends of friends is amazing. Thank you so much to those who have donated and those who will.
4. The youth group lesson the night I told my youth girls was “Faith In Action.” There I was praying (and slightly stressing) over that night for so long, and God aligned the lesson with my news all too perfectly. And, my girls are excited, a little sad, but really genuinely excited!
5. God has used the past few weeks to strengthen and affirm many friendships.
The love and encouragement and laughter that surrounds me is unebelievable. And only God
could have supplied those beautiful blessings.
The love and encouragement and laughter that surrounds me is unebelievable. And only God
could have supplied those beautiful blessings.
6. God has placed one of my really good friends in a similar situation of answering a great call on her life. I’ve gotten discouraged and a little disheartened from time to time that my squadmates aren’t around me in person. There are moments of pure joy, excitement, prayer, and fear when I wish I could talk to someone face-to-face about what God’s doing; someone who is in a similar situation that gets it in a way only we can. And now He’s provided such a friend. No, she’s not joing me on the WR, but she is going to do something spectacular for the Kingdom. More on what that is later, but we’ve been freaking out and having the, “Is this real life? Is this really happening?” conversation quite a bit in the past week. Praise God. Just praise Him for opening this new door within our friendship.
As I write this, I find it fitting that He would lay this blog on my heart this week, since the other 7th grade leaders and I challenged the girls to text us, “God showed His love by…” at least three times this week. We’re studying James, and when asked what my favorite verse was in a specific passage I responded with this,
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights, with whome there is
no variation or shifting shadow. ~ James 1:17
I love when God puts scripture in your path to remind and prepare you for something to come. He knew I would need this reminder and has used it to His glory. And it is in these moments, in this scripture, that I am reminded of the beautiful truth that walking obediently in His grace leads to joy.
So, what good and perfect gifts has God given you?
What sources of JOY has He brought into your life?
In His Grip,
Rhonda
And, in light of speaking about His joy, I couldn’t help but add this verse and song at the end.
“Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes
shall say, ‘All my springs of joy are in You.'”
~Psalm 87:7~
