When I was little I had this knack for adventure. In fact, you could say I might still have that. I would dream of days when I could finally travel to California, where, of course, I would become famous. I would perform in my living room with a feathered boa wrapped around my neck, a microphone at hand. The headlights would read “Star Lead ~ Abby Evaniuk.” I would do it all- act, sing, and dance. I was going to be the next big thing! At least, that was my childhood dream. But as I grew older, my dreams changed.
Upon entering into high school, I remember being in the same living room I use to dance in. But this time, I was sitting there on my mom’s computer and I came across the World Race. The video was full of adventure. People zip lining, people dancing in the villages of Africa, and endless smiles on their faces. To me, it looked like the adventure of a lifetime! But how would I ever be capable of something like that? I figured that would never happen for me. So, I put those dreams aside and went about my life.
Soon, senior year of high school rolled around and once again, my past dreams became just another patch of sand in the vast ocean. The only thing on my mind was college. However, my little adventurous self still wanted to go far! So I set out for Colorado. Not sure what I even wanted to do, God lead me there. And after undergoing a lot of trails and self-doubt, God used those tests to better prepare me for an upcoming adventure. He brought me back to an old dream of mine. By second semester of my freshman year, I was looking into the World Race again. The Lord whispered prospective plans for adventure yet once again, in ways I didn’t even expect at the time. Not even thinking about how much it would cost of me, I applied. I remember how scared yet excited I was. Honestly part of me was not sure it would ever be possible…
However, I am here to tell you that all things are possible with God! Something I’ve learned is that if you are choosing the Lord, he will grant you the desires of your heart. Shoot, sometimes we start to think we created these plans for our self but God is so much larger than we can even fathom!
Proverbs 16:9 states,
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
We can plan out our life for days but it is God that will get you there. He ordains our days, creates plans for each of his children. That is why the in-between, the trials and opposition that come from choosing the Father is so important! That is where all the growth takes place.
If I had not chosen to follow the Lord’s path for me and attend Colorado Christian University prior to this trip, odds are I would have been sent home early from the race. There was growth in certain areas that needed to take place before I could take on this mission, and choosing the Lord, abiding in his presence my freshman year, spurred that on. I am not saying I had to get all right with God before leaving the country, but there was preparation that had to take place in my heart, a sort of healing. I was in a shaky place. One that kept me from deepening my relationship with the Him. God knew that, and he was there for me. He is not going to send you out on the battle grounds if you are not able to stand firm.
And today I can say I am living out the dream he placed in my heart, and learning every day to stand with strength.
Tonight, I look up at the stars – the same stars I looked at in Cambodia, Thailand, Honduras and now Guatemala. I think back to where I was a year ago now and am speechless. I simply would not be here if it was not for God’s faithfulness! That is the very characteristic that I have come to find out is my favorite thing about Him. I have failed Him time after time. Yet, He STILL chases after me. I read this verse this week that left me awe struck.
2 Timothy 2:13
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful. For he cannot disown Himself.”
I cannot tell you how many times I have messed up. How many times I intentionally choose the wrong choice. But God, the very man who created me, who knew my story from the very begin, who created this dream in me before I even realized it- He remained faithful! If it was not for His everlasting love and mercy, the unwavering forgiveness that has driven me to choose him and chase him back, this dream of mine would not be a reality. This month I have been in complete amazement. This is my life! It’s better than any name in the headlights because I am able to spread Jesus, to spread kingdom! I get to share what He has done in my life with foreigners. I get to watch my fellow squad mates be transformed by God. I get to praise Jesus freely all around this world. I am living a life full of adventure because of God!
He is so incredibly faithful. He wants to see us live out our dreams because he placed them in us, but before that we have to lay down our life. We have to be ready to face the trails, choose him even when it’s hard. We have to go through the in-between. Growth can be uncomfortable, but it’s what creates you into the person God intended you to be. Praise God we are not the same we were 10 years ago, or even the person we were a year, day, or hour ago. Stay in step with the spirit and you’ll never be the same!
