Yikes
4 Reasons I’m not going on the world race….
I’m sad to say that contrary to what has been posted on social media or what people have previously thought about me, there are a few reasons why I’m NOT going on the world race. Bare with me as I explain why…
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I’m not going on the World Race because I quit school
This is not because school got too hard, and I dropped out. This is not because I just quit. I’m not just a college drop out. This was actually the opposite. I’ve had a 4.0 my entire life- never even made a B. This isn’t to brag or show off, but just to explain that school is my thing. Some people are gifted musicians or artists, my gift just happens to be school. I actually love school. I planned to graduate early and then go on for either a master’s or even considered potentially getting a doctorate. With all that to say, this was actually something I had to surrender to God. To choose that he was more important and that I trusted his plan for my life more than my own. This is exactly how I know it’s from him and not me because I would never purposely give up something I loved. But I only want what he wants for me now, and if that’s disrupting my plans in order to go share his love across the earth, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do. It takes faith to follow Jesus. Not logic. Never once does following Jesus look like the world’s way of life, so even though it makes sense to society for me to finish my last year of school in the proper timing, that’s not what he wants for my life at this time. His work for me is elsewhere.
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I’m not going on the World Race to find myself
First off, I’m not lost. That means there’s nothing to be found. I’m found in my loving God and belong to his family thanks to the blood shed by Jesus on the cross in my place. He’s already found me, so I don’t have to go into the world to find myself.
Also, going along with reason 1, this isn’t because I didn’t know what I was studying in school. Yes, it’s true that I don’t have a specific career path I was trying to follow like being a nurse or a teacher or an accountant, etc., but I’m not hoping to find my career path or plan for my life while I travel. Although it may be the case that God reveals more of his plan to me for my life, the purpose of this trip is not to find myself.
The real purpose of this trip is actually to find Jesus. I want to see him like I never have before. I want to hear his voice in new ways. I want to know him in a deeper more profound way than I already do. I want to find him in other cultures and places on this earth. I want to find more of him because then I’m able to share more of him. When I have more of him, I have more to give to the world.
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I’m not going on the World Race for a glamorous trip around the world
HAH that’s a good one! This is very much the opposite of that. This isn’t staying in 5 star resorts, or hotels at all for that matter. This isn’t exotic food and relaxing time on beaches all around the world. This isn’t sightseeing. This is living out of a hiking backpack with only a week’s worth of clothes (which all folded up into just ONE packing cube! All my clothes for one year in just one little cube wow. That’s a miracle in itself.) The same week’s worth of clothes for the next year of my life. Also, I’m living in a tent and staying in hostels on the floor, or sleeping in my eno. This is a year of dying to myself and not spoiling myself. This is learning to live on needs and not wants. And to fully depend on God and give up so many non essential goods so that there is more room for him.
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I’m not going on the World Race for cute selfies in cool places
Lastly, I’m not going on the World Race for the purpose of growing my instagram aesthetic. First of all, I hardly know what that means, and also I don’t know what mine even is lol. I won’t even have phone service while I’m gone! I’ll only be able to contact people/ get online when I’m lucky enough to find wifi in a city or airport. So in no way am I trying to blow up instagram with super cool pics of me everywhere, even though I may get some, my focus is on the people I’ll be serving, not on serving myself in this way. I’m not trying to show off or brag about all the cool things I get to do. Honestly, I don’t want this to be about me at all. In every picture I post, every story I share, every video I make, every blog I write, I want it to be all about God. This is for his glory. This is to show off how beautiful he is. This is to showcase his love. This is simply just his story, and I’m just lucky enough that he would even want to use me in it. I know he could do it without me, and I’m certain he could do it better and faster without me. Yet, he loves me so much that he just wants to partner with me so we can grow closer to each other. How lucky am I that he’d want to use me?
…so THIS is why I’m not going on the World Race, however, there are so many reasons why I am (stay tuned for my next post coming out Tuesday!). But no need to fear! All the money you donated and support you helped raise isn’t going to waste!! It’s still going to be used to serve people all over the World.
Thank you again to everyone who has supported me. I couldn’t do it without you. Specific shoutout to all the anonymous donors. You guys played a huge role in this, and I may not know who you are but I know God does, and he sees you and I pray he will multiply for you since you are sowing seeds into his kingdom.
To those who may not have been able to donate financially, but have prayed for me and encouraged me, I also couldn’t do it without yall. Your kind words and prayers remind me why I’m doing this and who I’m doing it for and even when I feel like I’m in over my head, I know God is going to show up even bigger than I could even imagine.
All of you are amazing!
xoxo,
Ashley ♥
