One thing I’ve heard multiple times over the last several months in preparation for my journey on the World Race is to surrender all expectations. Recently, I’ve really taken this to heart, and began reflecting on what my expectations are for the World Race. I’ve been asking God to reveal them to me and make my expectations clear so that I can initially acknowledge them, and then release them to Him—completely believing that He is in full-control of these 11 months.
The World Race is not about me—not about what I want to see, what I want to do and how I want to serve. Rather, this trip is about following the calling that God has placed in my life and allowing Him to use me as a vessel for Him—serving Him however and wherever He wants. It means following God’s leading and going where He directs (no matter what the cost).
Life doesn’t always conform to our individual expectations. For me, being the ‘planner’ type of person that I am finds it hard to not set a few hard-and-fast expectations of what the World Race will be like. There is no doubt that the World Race is going to take me out of my comfort zone, only to immerse me into an unpredictable environment where all I can fully rely on is faith as I rest in the arms of my Heavenly Father.
So, as I look ahead to what the 11 months on the World Race will be like, I may expect to:
- Grasp a better understanding of the love of Christ and how to live it out.
- Expand my worldview through the cultural differences and allow God to show me how to love all nations as He does.
- See God’s glory be shown through my team as we carry out the work where He has called us.
- Have opportunities where I can love on orphans and children.
- See strangers become like family.
- Be used by God.
- Find incredible blessings and challenges (at times) with my S Squad community. No doubt we will have our differences, but I am trusting that we can move past our differences and idiosyncrasies as we work together to serve Christ first and foremost.
- Eat strange foods.
- Be uncomfortable and find myself stepping outside of my comfort zone more times than I would prefer (if I had my way!).
- Be challenged.
- Deepen my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Return a changed person—be made new in Christ.
I’m sure my list of expectations could continue, but currently these are the things going through my mind. Between now and July I am praying that I can surrender my own specific expectations and instead have the confidence that God will work and move according to His plan and His timing.
“As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20
