Dear Racers…
Two words that in any normal context would have no great value or meaning, two words that normally wouldn’t bring any feelings of anxiety, fear, excitement or sadness. Two words, ten letters that to most of you have no great meaning, but to some of you these two words have changed everything.
Corona-virus…
Two words that before 2020 had never been put together in a sentence, two words that until 2020 would have no authority or power over anyone or their thoughts and fears. Two words, eleven letters that a year ago would have no great meaning to anyone, but those two words now have the power to bring fear to everyone worldwide.
Over a year ago I signed up for the world race, which was a nine month mission trip, going to three separate countries. My plan was to spread God’s name, while getting to travel the world and have new experiences. My plan was to go to a week long training camp in July, then launch to Romania in September. My plan… two words, six letters that most of us use all too often.
Dear Racers + Corona-virus = My plan turned upside down.
New plan, my training camp was moved to September.
Dear Racers…
New plan, training camp was now going to be three months long, then we would launch to our three different countries for 6 months.
Dear Racers…
New plan, due to covid two of our countries were closed down, Costa Rica here we come!
Dear Racers…
covid hit home, over half my squad tested positive. We were separated in four different locations within the time span of an hour. Goodbyes, see you soons were all quick and contactless.
Dear Racers…
New plan, due to covid we aren’t able to go back to the world race after thanksgiving break. We will all be headed to our families homes for six weeks, then hopefully still launching in January.
How could these little words have the power to change my plans so easily? Well there was the problem, they were changing my plans, my plans which are totally dependent on the world around me, my plans which have no guarantee. These words however have no power over God’s plan. Over a year ago when I signed up for the world race it was God’s plan to have me spend three months in Gainesville Georgia, building relationships with amazing people, worshiping, learning more about myself and most of all building my relationship with Him. It was God’s plan for over half my squad to get covid and have to lean on Him, it was God’s plan to separate us into different locations. It is God’s plan for me to go back to Wichita for six weeks before I launch to Costa Rica. Then no matter what happens in Costa Rica it will be His plan. Even if I don’t get to go to Costa Rica, I can be sure that no matter what happens it will be His plan and He will take all this chaos that the enemy means for evil and God will turn it into something that will be better than I could ever imagine. It is human for me to want to plan and know what the future holds and it is human for me to be sad and angry when those plans don’t turn out the way I want them to. Thankfully my God is one that allows me to not only have those feelings of sadness and anger, but He is there to help me and love me through those feelings. Then once God pulls me through those feelings, He shows me the amazing things that are in His plan for me, which are better than anything I could have planned.
Dear God,
Thank you so much for always having a plan for me, thank you for loving me and staying by my side even when I try to plan my own future. Thank you for gently guiding me through my sadness and anger when my plans disappoint me. Help me continue to rely on you and seek you out in both the good times and bad. Most of all, thank you for being my loving, gracious, forgiving, redeeming, comforting Father,
Amen.
