“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – James 1:22
Nine years ago, when I was at summer camp, my camp counselor challenged me with this verse and it has stuck with me ever since. As I was wrestling with God over whether or not I should accept my acceptance into the World Race, this verse kept popping up.
When I received my acceptance into the World Race, I began considering the implications of leaving and I was torn. The past few months, I have seen God at work in my life through the community that he has provided me with. After wrestling with God, and praying for deeper community, he has provided abundantly — in the form of coffee dates with friends, bowling matches with co-workers, late night Skype calls and hot tub conversations, puppies, campfires, ice cream, a family trip to Iowa, a wedding, dancing, and shared meals with family and friends. While things aren’t perfect and I’ve had my share of stress these past few months as I have overextended myself in my work, I have felt an incredible amount of peace and contentment.
In light of this newfound community, it was hard for me to decide to voluntarily give it up. And, in reflection, I realized that this would be the first time I intentionally gave up such community. But, furthermore, I realized that I would be limiting God and His ability to provide if I decided that my community should end here. See, God’s plans for us are bigger than we can imagine. Who am I to say that His answer to my prayer doesn’t extend into this new opportunity and that community that I’ve begun to develop is only the beginning of the beautiful plan that He has for me?
In a way, I feel like Abraham as he went up the mountain to sacrifice his son, confused why God would ask me to give up something that I had longed for and asked for. While I am not walking up the mountain to sacrifice a child, I hope that I can follow the Lord as obediently as Abraham, surrendering my will for His.
As it says in Matthew 13:24-27,
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”
