Recently Jesus has been showing me the importance of the waiting period. I believe this phase is something that no one ever really talks about but everyone struggles with at some point in their life. Whether it’s waiting to hear from God, waiting for a significant other or waiting for a specific opportunity to come up, it is something that people do often. I think that so many struggle with this because there is not a lot of direction given for moments like these. When reading stories in the Bible, it always seems to jump from big event to big event. It does not talk a whole lot about the characters in the Bible waiting to hear from the Lord, but instead, seems to skip over that part. However, that does not mean that it was not there. And it does not mean that there was not something to learn during that waiting period. If you currently feel like you are stuck waiting, I challenge you to dive into what you believe Pops is trying to teach you during this phase. Once I changed to this mindset, the Lord began a work in me that I would never have anticipated.
With the race getting closer and closer (I leave for training camp in a couple weeks!!) I have officially gone through all of the emotions possible, preparing for this trip. I have been excited, terrified, happy, sad, anxious, expectant and about anything else you can think of. Along with the change in emotion comes the change in my willingness to participate in the race. About every other day I decide that it’s too much and don’t want to go anymore. I have recently discovered that my attitude toward the race is constantly waveringbecause I have been looking for what the World Race is going to do for me. At some point, I stopped looking at it as an opportunity for me to serve and started looking at it as something to give me fulfillment.
During this incredibly hard waiting period of mine, Pops is teaching me the importance of having a servant’s heart. I did not choose to go on the race to travel, to take a year off from school, or to meet new people. I chose to do the race because the Lord has asked me to serve Him by dropping everything and following the path He has paved for me. He has asked me to share His love with the people of Thailand, Malaysia, Costa Rica and Ecuador. He has asked me to trust that He has a plan and to serve His people. Whether I get anything out of the World Race or not, I will be glad doing it because I am living out the life that He has planned for me.
We should all feel honored that we have the opportunity to serve others because it is something that Jesus was constantly able to do. We have the privilege to be a vessel simply by loving and going the extra mile. I have challenged myself to not only remember to have a servant’s heart while on the race, but to start now in my everyday life. The best part is, I am not able to do this in my own strength but am constantly forced to rely on the Lord to give me the ability to be successful. Although I am not perfect in my attempt to do this, I am thankful that Pops is starting a work in my heart because of this change in mindset. I challenge you to begin praying for Him to show you small ways that you can exercise a servant’s heart and to be expectant of how he will begin a change in you when you do so.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24
so much love,
ash
