Wow. Ok, so I’ve experienced God in a brand new way. This past month has definitely been a whirlwind, and at first it was difficult to put it into words, but I think I’ve got it now. But first, I’d like to announce that I will officially be on the World Race, August 2017!! I’m super excited and blessed to have this opportunity to spend a year to do the Lord’s work!!! So now, here’s how it all went down.
This whole year, God has shown me how awesome He is and how real He is, and He’s just been loving on me (and babying me, as it turns out) since January. This whole World Race experience has been crazy: finding out about the race, being accepted into it, having CRAZY FAITH that I could raise almost $20,000 in three months (Sounds ludicrous, I know, but I still know God can do it!) and trusting Him down to the last millisecond all to find out that nahhh, it’s not happening, all in a month’s time. It’ll definitely take you through the ringer. When I realized I wasn’t going to be able to go, (transparent moment) I wanted to curl up in a ball and not leave my room. I honestly thought God would come through and do it, and I trusted him 100% that I could raise $5000 in a week to go to training camp. Anytime anyone looked at me crazy and told me it was impossible, I would shut it down, because I knew God could do it IF that’s what He wanted for me. I was embarrassed. I was so open about my story on how he changed me and how He’s soo epic and how the World Race was an opportunity of a lifetime. I just didn’t understand why everything happened the way it did, I was racking my brain trying to understand why. Honestly, I was mad at God, and I told Him I was. (Sorry, Jesus! Love you!)
From there, I just sought Him more so that I could understand what happened. It was a few days later that I came across this scripture.
“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and as a father the son he delights in.” Proverbs 3:11
I just burst into tears. I knew that the honeymoon was over, and now it was time for some discipline and pruning. I knew He did it for a reason. I later realized I had to be open about my story and to have crazy faith. I gave my testimony on an interview I did on Youtube, and had the World Race not happened the way it did, I wouldn’t have given that testimony that I know blessed so many people and gave reassurance of what God can do in the lives of those who trust Him, and it helped people to hold on to their faith.
During the interview, I said a prayer that I listened to for the first time last night, and my own prayer, that was meant for other people, spoke EXACTLY to what I needed at that particular time. I was blown away. I didn’t even realize I had said some of the things I said. Just thinking about it, I’m getting full, because again, God is soooo intentional. People need to see that God is right there with us if you just seek Him. He loves us so dearly. It’s so beautiful. People are going to need Him more than ever with the way the world is going, but don’t know how to access Him. That is why He raised up people like me for such a time as this. I am a living witness.
Although at the time it hurt my feelings to not go when I wanted, I’ve seen SO MANY reasons why I couldn’t go on the World Race just yet. Here are a few:
1. Instead of fully relying on a miracle to raise the money in a few months, I know God wants me to use my gifts and talents He has blessed me with to raise HIS money and to glorify Him.
2. I have time to get into shape. Funny story/ Transparent Moment: I was walking my dog on a day that I would have been at training camp. All of a sudden, my knee started hurting really badly, and it hurt for two weeks… from walking my dog. How the heck was I going to hike 3 miles with a 50lb. backpack in 50 minutes? Now I have the opportunity to prepare physically and get into shape, so I can do what the Lord needs me to do.
3. Both in one day, I had two different people at two different times question me about God and my relationship with Him. One person was a believer, but was hostile about what I had to offer (she obviously didn’t know my life), while the other was someone who it turns out has an Instagram page dedicated to trying to prove that my God is false. I learned in both of those situations, that I need more boldness in Christ Jesus and need to hone in on the Holy Spirit leading and speaking through me.
With that said, I just give Him all of the glory and honor and praise. I’ve definitely learned Him in a new way, and He’s definitely leveling me up. Now He’s really pruning me and disciplining me and getting me down to the nitty gritty. He is truly showing me who I am in this season, and preparing me for what’s ahead. Lord, have mercy. I prayed for Him to use me, and mannn, is He getting me together! It’s not easy, but My God is it worth it. So now, it’s back to the grind. August will be here before you know it! Let’s get it!!
