Pre-Race Taylor Mackenzie White,
You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.
You think you’re being sent to the nations to save lives, but just like God told you at training camp, He is sending you to save YOUR life. YOUR faith.
This won’t hit you till month 11 but God could have used so many tragic things to get your attention but because He loves you so much He chose to send you on the greatest adventure surrounded by the most wonderful people, to create space and get your attention.
You just turned 24 but you will learn more in the next 11 months than you have the past 24 years.
It’s not just a walk in the park but it’s worth it.
You have some deep wounds and some deeply rooted hurts, pains and experiences. God is going to dig them up and rip off scabs and it’s going to hurt. But the wounds won’t scar and the healthy roots will have more room to grow and become deeper.
You are going to struggle. MAN you’re going to struggle but the community you‘ve been praying for will surround you, fight for you and lift you up.
There will be times you want to give up on God and community, but you know that’s not who you are and God won’t let you quit. You will keep fighting and it will be worth it.
You will struggle the whole race with comparison, even though you’re in the ministry world. You will struggle with the expectations of where you think you should be in your spiritual walk. I know that frustrates you but God is so patient and kind to remind you over and over and He is not frustrated with you. Slowly and surely you will become more aware of the lies Satan attacks you with and of God’s voice and His promises. So enjoy the journey and embrace right where He has you.
You will ask God for things and like any good father, He will say no sometimes and it will break you. But, not to worry, it will propel you into His arms and even deeper intimacy with Him. He works all things for your good and His glory.
You will know what it‘s like to actually have a relationship with God.
You will learn so much about Him and His Holy Spirit inside of you.
Through knowing Him more you will begin to know who you are.
It sounds insane right now but you will preach, teach, tell your testimony and evenaglize. You will actually enjoy it to the point of always being 1st to volunteer. Then you will have to learn the balance between saying yes and empowering others.
You will begin to learn that people pleasing is actually selfish and you don’t need the approval of others because you are already living from the approval of God. You WILL say the hard things and you WILL give people feedback because you genuinely love them.
You will miss your family and many big moments at home but God will help you understand that He loves them more than you do. You will have to actually surender your family to Him and it will be one of the scariest things you ever do. But if it isn’t scary, did it really take faith to begin with?
This next year you will; go on the most outrageous adventures, have ministry you don’t see the purpose in, create beautiful relationships, fail, succeed, cry, laugh till you pee too many times, and take part in saving the world through your love and appreciation for God using the World Race to save your life.
So buckle up and get ready because this is just the beginning of the beginning of the most beautiful love story.
-Month 12 Taylor
