Jumping on a Moving Train

I found myself tonight needing to revisit a vision. Thank You, Papa, for lovingly, patiently, faithfully bringing this child back to the same truths again and again, as many times as it takes to stick. 

At training camp, one of my teammates leaned into the heart of God for me, asking Him for a picture to speak truth and encouragement into my life. This is what she saw. I was laboring at the tracks to hammer nails into stone as a train approached. I struggled alone for something I obviously could not accomplish. God’s word was this, “Ada, don’t try to do the impossible without Me.” 

Fast forward. 

The days before launch felt as though they were slipping by quickly through an hourglass. And what I heard from my team and my squad was something like a chorus of, “I can’t wait for launch! I wish we could start the race now!” After my wonder and thankfulness at their enthusiasm, passion, and faith, I felt great pause. I felt guilty, because, given the option, I would have tacked on a few extra days to the calendar. I felt utterly unprepared, completely incomplete, back at the tracks trying to hammer nails into stone. Time to get on my face. But I didn’t. For a month, I’d close my eyes to think or sleep and see the light of a train flooding the tracks, rushing toward me. I knew the train was the World Race. This beautiful, bold engine of transformation was heading straight for me, and I felt overwhelmed, unprepared, unworthy. Time to get on my face. Time to talk with someone who would speak truth and encouragement. But I didn’t. I blinked the image away. 

I blinked it away until I’d had enough of shrinking back from my own vision and decided to welcome and embrace God’s vision. I closed my eyes and found myself again at the tracks with the train approaching. But this time… “Papa, where do you want to take this?” And once my eyes were off of my own hands and what they could not accomplish, once my gaze was fixed again on His, I dropped the hammer, nails, and stone and picked up peace. “Daughter, don’t try to do the impossible without Me. You don’t have to build this track. I built this track with the racers that went before you. Don’t try to perfect yourself before you go; I will refine and perfect you as you go. You are worthy, because I call you worthy. As for unprepared, you’ve got all you need.” And with that, He offered a backpack. I extended my arms, and He placed it on my back. It was light, and I think I felt lighter for accepting it, knowing it contained treasures and tools for what was ahead. Then it was time to do something I’ve dreamt of since I was a young girl…jump on a moving train. With a leap of faith and a loving boost from Papa, I found myself on board with my squad, uncertain of what was ahead, confident that it would be beautiful, backed by Holy Spirit .

Since His vision, I haven’t gone back to my own. But in moments when my stomach tightens and my eyes fall, He takes me back. He reminds me… He’s got this, He’s got me, I’ve got Him. 

In three weeks, I will be on a plane leaving the fields, familiarity, friends, and family behind, with this thought in mind, “The impossible is a target for God to move.”

I pray you’re encouraged by what you’ve read. Whatever new thing is coming down your track, you can ask for His vision, His perspective. It’s absolutely better than our own. He will be faithful to remind you when you forget. He will be faithful to give you a loving boost when you need it.

And one more thing…I sincerely hope this is only the first time I post a blog with this title, and that the second is for an entirely different reason…

And one more thing. Really this time! As I finish this entry, I hear my dad imitating a train whistle, while talking with my sister about his past experience working as an electrician for the railroad. They have no idea I’m writing this blog. Love it. Love it. Love it.