For everyone out there who still looks at me completely doe-eyed when I tell them I’m going on the World Race.. SUPRISE it’s not actually a race. This is not a 5K, marathan, or triathalon. So why is it called the “race?” Heck if I know! If I had to give my best guess… It’d have something to do with “racing around the world in 11 months.” But if I really thought about it, it’d be because the Lord calls us all to run the race.
” Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 –this race is about bringing people to see His Kingdom here on earth. It’s about giving hope to the hopeless. It’s about sharing the forgiving love of Christ with the filthiest of sinners (which so often is ourselves) “and along the way, you realize God has changed you way more than you have changed them.”
No one or nothing could explain exactly what the World Race is and why I feel called to it better than THIS video. Here’s your explanation & motivation. I’ve never watched this video without getting chills. http://youtu.be/BiYUDhkLpTw
“The world race is about the opportunity to come and find out who God is calling you to be. It’s for those who want more than the 9-5 and more than the status quo.”
For years I have felt like my desires and passions surpass anything I can find here. No career, no job seems to satisfy this aching desire inside of me to see the world, to meet broken and needy people where they are, and to show Christ’s relentless love to the nations. The World Race is the epitomy of all these things
I am so far from a perfect reflection of who Christ is. Even when I run as hard and fast as I can from Him, He is romantic, and persistent, gracious, and patient. He has so undeservingly opened the door for this incredible opportunity to me. After so many years of begging him to “send me,” his constant “not now” has finally become “now, my dear.”
& It is SO much harder than I thought it would be. I HATE asking people for money. I hate being dependent, needy, or vulnerable with people. I don’t want to seem like a bother or a nuisance to anyone. Fundraising is not for me.
“Exactly,” the Lord tells me. “This is not about you, and this is not for you. This is your mission to die to self, let your community help you carry your cross, and come to me. It will be difficult and it may be slow. Be patient. Have stamina. I WILL provide — in my perfect timing.” Due to my impatient human nature, THIS has been the hardest part for me: to trust that the Lord has good planned for me, to trust that the money will come in, and to trust that He is completely and totally in control. He has not forgotten about me, and I do not have to earn it. Even when I am so faithless of Him, he continues to be so steadily faithful to me.
This is why I can never walk away from my Faith no matter how tough life gets and no matter how much at times that I want to. I know there is more. I know without him there is only emptiness, a constant striving to fill the giant hole in me that He designed just for Himself.
So even when I am imperfect, I will trust His grace to cover me and His love to wash over me: which always makes me fall in love with Him, all over again.
The World Race will be the hardest thing I have ever done. I dont hike. I’ve never been camping outside of a fully furnished camper. I have no idea how to pitch a tent. These things that seem like such huge obstacles to me now, I fear will be the easiest part of the race. I will be forced to lean on my team and my Heavenly Father every single day — for strength, for encouragement, and for stamina to keep going when all I want is my temperpedic mattress, American food, air conditioner, and my momma. I will be forced to stop trying so hard to do it all myself. I will see poverty. I will see disease. I will see brokenness. I will see joy.
As much as it kills me to admit, I cannot do this on my own. I have ran myself physically and emotionally dry trying it this way. I need God to give me peace daily. I need to have faith He knows what He’s doing. & I need you. I need constant prayer and encouragement. I need peoole to pray and ask how the Lord is calling them to give: their time, their fundraising ideas, their love, or their financial support. I can’t tell you how He’s calling you to give. Everyone is called differently, but we are all called. Please pray and ask how He’s calling you. Then prepare to see Him work miracles in and through you.
Thank you so much to everyone who has already reached out to me, checked on me, encouraged me, and given. You are helping bring the Gospel to the nations.
— your (hopeful) World Racer
