Friends,
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been home for almost a month now. The Race came and went while feeling simultaneously like a blink of an eye, and like 10 years. It’s hard to encompass all the Lord has done in one final blog post, but the biggest thing I am walking away with is a greater and deeper understanding of His faithfulness.
So much has changed, but the Lord has remained constant. He has remained steadfast and faithful. The Lord did all of the growing and simply used the Race as a conduit.
I’m ending this year changed, to say the least.
When we launched in January, I started as a girl who was sure of only a few things: God is who He says He is, He called me to this journey, and He will see me through it. I started with lots of insecurities and uncertainty. But as I sit here writing this last blog, I am a woman who is confident in the Lord and His plans, who knows her identity and is firmly rooted in the Lord.
I sit here in awe of God and all that He has done. I sit amazed that He would choose me over and over again.
This isn’t where I want to stay in this blog, but I definitely wanted to bring it up. When we have willing hearts and obedient spirits, the Lord can work miracles and bring forth growth we never thought would happen. His grace abounds.
For this last blog I don’t want to stay focused on me, rather, I want to leave you with a challenge.
Go.
Our great commission is laid out clearly for us in Matthew 28:16-20:
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This command was not meant just for the eleven disciples or a select few missionaries. If you have a relationship with the Lord, this is the call on your life too.
The Lord wants for all His children to go out and make disciples. He is seeking after obedient hearts and willing spirits.
If you have a relationship with the Lord, you are called to go.
Go to the nations, go to your family, go to your neighbors, go to Target. Go.
When the Lord calls you to something, don’t hesitate. If He calls you to the nations, go to the nations. If He calls you to go talk to that woman in the grocery store, go talk to that woman in the grocery store.
We have to stop being afraid of what people will think. Stop being afraid of rejection. If you go to someone for Jesus and they reject you, they aren’t actually rejecting you, they’re rejecting Jesus.
We must go.
The time has passed for excuses. The time has passed for weak Christians. The time has passed for timidity.
We must go.
It doesn’t have to look like going on some elaborate trip, God has placed you exactly where you are to have a lasting impact. If He calls you out, go out. If He calls you to stay, stay. Regardless, we must go and proclaim that the Kingdom of God is near.
We are His disciples and we must go and make disciples.
No, we can’t do it alone, but that’s why Jesus promised to be with us always. He has never left our side and He will equip us to whatever He calls us to.
All we have to do in order to get to this point is spend time with Him and follow where He is leading us. He already has things set up for us, but we cannot get to them unless we are listening for His voice.
He is the God who goes before us, comes behind us, and walks right alongside us.
Do not be afraid. Trust in the Lord. Trust in His voice. He will not lead you astray.
My dear friends, it is time for us to go.
With all my love,
Chels
