Short Answer:
Loudly, and Jonah-like. God dragged me kicking and screaming.
Longer Answer:
I am very good at starting things and never finishing them. So when the opportunity came up to apply for the world race I thought, “sure, it sounds neat, travel the world for Jesus, lets do this!” Because historically, I do things up to the point where I actually have to give something up for it, and then I meander away. You could say that I lack skills in “counting the cost”.
So only when I was finally accepted, and had told every single person I knew, did it sink in that I would, in fact, leave my normal comfortable life for a year and meander around the world living out of a backpack. Now that sounds great in theory right? Freedom and all of that, no cell phone, woo! But I expect in reality it will be very difficult, and smelly. Squatty Potties are not for the faint of heart.
I started to backpedal and come up with excuses, but God met every single one with an answer. It seemed that he wanted me to actually follow through with this. Except I didn’t like the answers he gave. The truck I bought this year? Sell it he says. My nice comfy bed I don’t want to leave? Ditto on the Sell-o.
And then there was the song. I don’t know if God has ever chased you around the music world, but it goes something like this: After praying and arguing with him about going on the race during my morning prayer time I get in my car and the song “Background” by Lecrae comes on. If you are not familiar with this song it is at the bottom of the post. “Haha” I thought, “very funny, it’s like God is talking to me or something” Then I get to work and turn on my music app. The song plays again. And again. And again. I literally heard the song four or five times before lunch. Then I get into my truck to go to lunch and the song starts playing on the radio. Again.
At this point I decided that it was better to cut my losses before a whale shows up in the middle of Oklahoma. You might think it is strange for me to be concerned that a sea creature will show up in a completely land locked state and eat me, but have you READ the bible? Stranger things have happened. So all I have left in me is to say “Yes Lord” and do what he says. He is slightly larger than me and will win the argument in the end anyway. The truck? Will be going to its new owner within the month. My comfy bed? It is sold and I am sleeping on the floor.
It is amazing what happens when you finally give in to God’s will. It is a peaceful place to be. It’s also exciting, because for once, I’m not in control. I thought it would be terrifying to let God call the shots and show me where to go, but its not. Its incredibly exciting because I honestly have no idea what will happen next, but I know that whatever it is, it is going to be incredible! I am in his hands and it feels great.
