A few days ago I returned from Gainesville, Georgia where I attended World Race training camp. This was essentially a trial by fire where we were pushed to our physical, emotional, and spiritual limits. This included, but was not limited to, sleeping in tents, living in a constant state of filth due to the heat and humidity, taking showers with a bucket of water and a measuring cup, sharing porta potties with 270 other people (which was particularly unpleasant after India day), not having access to our phones, doing life with 40 complete strangers, and experiencing the Holy Spirit in new and radical ways.
Those were probably some of the most challenging few days of my life, but definitely some of the most rewarding.
Aside from all of the hard things we had to endure, we also had incredible nights of worship, cultural training, team building exercises, time to get to know our squad (name game anyone?), and morning, afternoon, and evening sessions featuring some phenomenal speakers.
Most nights after our evening session, we would break off into our teams and have time to discuss what we had just learned and process the events of the day. One night, as we were nearing the end of training camp our leader asked us if we were excited or nervous to go home and why. My immediate thought was, Yes, I’m clearly ready to be home for the obvious reasons: running water, an actual bed, air conditioning, and most importantly, my dog. But after my initial reaction faded I noticed that despite all the various forms of discomfort I had been experiencing for the past few days, I was reluctant to leave it.
Now, this was a particularly bizarre conclusion to come to given the aforementioned circumstances. However, I had come to realize that I am not meant to be comfortable in this world. In Romans 8:17-18 Paul says, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” He also states in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
THIS is the perspective I want to keep in the forefront of my mind. Whenever I feel the urge to complain about any of my earthly troubles, THESE are the words I want to retain. When I’m in Thailand and feel like I’m dying of a heat stroke, I want to remember what a privilege it is to share the gospel because I have the kingdom of God within me. If I’m in Malaysia and think about how much easier it would be if I could just tell them about the Lord, I want to be reminded that this mental distress can’t even be compared to the eternal glory that awaits me.
And so I have a request of you, my fellow disciples. Human nature stands in the way of any innate desire to be uncomfortable, so I pray that you would keep me accountable; that you would tell me when my actions don’t align with these words (yay feedback!). It won’t be easy, but we were never promised ease.
Fundraising Update: I only need $388 until I reach my next goal of $10,000 which is due August 24! THANK YOU SO MUCH to those who have donated!! Please continue to keep me and my squad in your prayers as we leave for Asia in six short weeks!
Thanks so much for reading,
– Connaly
