I’m going to foreworn that this is kind of lengthy…but I’ll break it up with pictures to hold your attention! Disclaimer – some are old and from my FIRST missions trip to Honduras when I was a Sophomore in High School!
Yesterday marked the one month date that I officially was accepted to The World Race! For those who don’t know, you have to APPLY through a rigourous application and then wait…to hear back if you were ACCEPTED! I say rigourous because the application process makes you thoroughly reflect upon your past, all of it, the “good” and “bad”…
I am far from perfect and my walk with God is a continual process every day! I will be the first to admit that I have had my share of stumbling blocks, and have I stumbled, again…and again!
The application process was just the beginning of my time of reflection throughout this journey. I am constantly having to remind myself that it’s God that needs to AND will be glorified throughout this journey. One moment I might catch myself thinking “How on earth am I going to raise all this!” believing that I have any control in how the fundraising turns out to begin with.
God has a different plan and has been by my side the entire time and without fail pointing out to me whenever I’m having doubts that the fundraising process is meant to continue to grow me and strengthen my dependence upon Him!
“Sometimes we need to surrender to the spirit that divinely connects us all and works mysteriously behind the scenes, weaving faith and hope into our lives, unseen and unknown.” (pocketfuel)
Mysteriously behind the scenes, weaving faith and hope into our lives. I love that imagery, like an author creating a plot line, or a seamstress, attentively sowing together a quilt. You never really know how God is working in your life when your in the middle of it! We’re not required to “understand” but anchor our trust, hope, faith, and love in Christ. To walk not by sight, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (John 20:29), but by blind faith, trusting God to lead us with each step. Knowing without seeing that He is there, sowing all the pieces together, creating the bigger picture.
Without speaking directly to us God can show us He hears our cries. For me God’s caught my attention through others, sending supporters of this missions trip my way when I least expect it, and from the least expecting of people. I have been humbled by the friends from High School, college professors, coworkers, family friends, and distant relatives, who have reached out to me in some way or another showing their love and support for this missions trip. Some active believers in Christ, some not, either way not mattering to God for “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) God was “mysteriously” at work with each new person I met from the very beginning, weaving our stories together for His glory!
Isn’t that cool! That each one of us has a greater purpose and meaning in life, whether it becomes evident now, in a month from now, a year, maybe never – knowing that God is working behind the scenes for a greater purpose that will glorify His name! Creating each of our adventurous stories, or vivid, detailed quilts! We may still question His purpose at times, think something trivial because we can’t see the bigger picture as it is still being unfolded before us each day. The Spirit within you will remain restless until you satisfy that passion and purpose for your life. Until you finally just buy that Wear Love T-Shirt you’ve been seeing all over FaceBook, or donate that $20- you were going to spend on Sushi anyways and donate the money to a girl who at some point God, in one way or another, introduced to you, for His purpose, for His glory.
Myself, and other racers, can probably relate to what Charles Spurgeon writes so poetically:
“At this hour, a mountain of difficulty, distress, or necessity may be in our way, and natural reason sees no path over it, or through it, or around it. Let faith come in, and straightaway the mountain disappears and becomes a plain. But faith must first hear the word of the Lord, “Not by might, nor by power, but by his Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.””
Satan tries to sneak in, oppress, and whisper lies that our God can’t move mountains, let alone stir the hearts of many to donate $17,000. Forcing human control over fundraising can become just another stumbling block in my life. Instead of focusing and trying to control situations, control outcomes, manipulate and force things to happen, it’s better to just let go, let God. To be active in my fundraising but to also let go of the control and let God do his thing, in my life and yours!
