During college I would get overwhelmed a lot with all of the things that I had to do. I would get stressed out with anxiety and feelings that overwhelmed me with all the tasks and obstacles in front of me that I needed to get accomplished. As I Lately I have been feeling a lot of the same way being here in Moldova (even though we haven’t been doing a ton of stuff). I have been looking at how long the journey seems ahead of me and feeling like it will never end and never be over. I wake up day after day here in Moldova trying to embrace the adventure that I am living with Christ, but some days it’s just really hard to do that. We have been here 3 weeks now and we still have about 2 weeks left. As I have been struggling through the feelings of feeling like I am not making an impact and feeling like this journey or month will never end, I have been hearing my Dad’s voice in my head saying, “Ryan, don’t try to eat the elephant all at once, eat it one bite at a time.” It’s a piece of advice my Dad used to give me during college when I would be struggling with getting papers and big projects done.
Let me first be clear on something, I would never eat an elephant lol. But my Dad’s advice has really helped me through tough times in college and is now helping me through the slowness and mundane moments of this month. It is hard, but I am learning to embrace the adventure, even in the slowness and low parts of it. I am learning to take the race and especially this month, one day at a time…
I cannot look to the end of the journey, because I am then going to miss out on everything that God wants to do with me WITHIN the journey. One of my hero’s growing up was the Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre. I remember after winning the SuperBowl, Favre explained that the most special part about the SuperBowl was actually not winning it, but the journey getting to it. He explained how the journey to get there was the most special part of being there. Moldova is part of the journey and instead of looking to Kenya or even looking to what life will be like after the race when I get home in June, I need to embrace the journey. I need to be a journeyman and embrace what God has for me here.
So I am going to keep following my Dad’s advice and wake up each day focusing on one day at a time. I am going to try my best to run the race with my eyes focused and LOCKED on the author and perfecter of my faith – JESUS CHRIST!
Today I was really inspired thinking about what life was like when Jesus walked on the earth. I thought about how many times He must have got homesick and missed His Father and family in heaven. Yet he still chose to stay here and embrace the journey and adventure that His Father had called him to. This morning I read the verse from John 8:29 that says, “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone.” This is actually Jesus talking in this verse and it spoke to my heart so much. See Jesus here was talking about how His Father sent him and that even though Jesus was on earth embracing the life of a human, God was still with Him and in Him. I then thought of John 17: 20:23 where Jesus prays for all believers (us) that we would be one with Him just as He and the Father are one. Jesus prays that we can one with him, He in us, and the Father in Him. This verse struck me so much and almost brings tears to my eyes now thinking about how just as the Father was with Jesus in Jesus’ life and journey, now Jesus is with me in my life and my journey. Even though I feel homesick and at times wondering what I am doing here on this race, I am learning to embrace the struggle, embrace the journey, and embrace the adventure that Jesus has called me to and is living with me in! Even though I miss my family and friends, I need to take heart knowing that the Father who created me, the Savior who saved me, and the Spirit who guides me IS WITH ME AND IN ME! I need to remember that we will have struggles in this world, BUT TO TAKE HEART because Jesus has conquered the world and now lives with me and IN ME! (John 16:33).
So know that whatever journey you are on today, wherever you at, and whatever you are going through, the Father who made you, the Savior who saved you, and the Holy Spirit who guides you and lives within you is always with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9) He will sustain you and continue to lift you up in every way that you and me need it – Isaiah 46:4.
He will guide us and lead us through the fog, through the drought, and through our journey’s one step at a time never leaving us, never forsaking us, and always holding us together and close to his heart! – Isaiah 43:1-6 and Colossians 1:27, and Isaiah 40:11.
Thanks for your prayers, love, and words of encouragement to me, it means more than you know! If you are at a place internally that relates to me at all, I have been listening to my friend’s cd that has been connecting with me a lot. I’m not just trying to sell his music, but to share something that the Lord is using to help me through the struggle that the journey can bring at times. The cd is called “Afraid to Live EP” by Aaron Wardle if you want to check it out.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/afraid-to-live-ep/id554814732
Here are also some Bible verses that are encouraging me and helping me that I hope encourages you to.
“The one who sent me with me, he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” – John 8:29
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them any be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” – John 17:20-23
“The LORD HIMSELF goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scoring its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2
“Be Strong and Courageous, do not be terrified or discouraged, for the Lord YOUR GOD will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. THE LORD IS NEAR. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE OF GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4”4-7
“Come near to God, and He will near to you.” – James 4:8
Also as always here is a song that really, really inspires me about this world race that I am on and the life that I and you are living. We are all on the race of life and we never know when it will end! Know that your not running it alone and that when you feel like you can’t run any longer, that your Father will carry you through it!
HE LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW….
