One of my biggest blessings so far in this World Race journey has been the amount of encouragement I have received. Friends, family, coworkers, strangers, it’s been crazy! It might be a donation and word of encouragement from an old coach; or some Hope Soap customers tracking me down through my favorite barista at my local coffee shop to place another order (one of the many perks of a small town). A hug to let me know they are praying for me, but could “never do what I’m doing”. With such an awesome support system, how could I not feel encouraged? The thing is, I am not doing anything great or extraordinary. I am simply being obedient.
Being obedient is really all that God is calling any of us to do. He shows Himself to us in our daily lives and it is up to us to recognize and move toward Him. It isn’t always as big as this adventure. It’s an urge to give a stranger a word of encouragement. Having the courage to stand up and not stand by when He shows you the broken and oppressed. Especially during the holiday season, it could mean seeing a need and stepping up to meet it. Or maybe an extra measure of kindness in the way you speak to your children or spouse. All those things sound easy on paper… but being kind is sometimes hard at the end of a long work day. And talking to strangers can be weird and uncomfortable. What difference am I going to make anyways?
Obedience, in my experience, is directly related to being dependent on God. He wants to work in us and through us! But if we don’t follow in obedience we aren’t giving Him that opportunity. I cannot make a difference but God working through me can make all the difference in the world. He knows who needs to hear from a stranger, or the ripple affect your courageous words in our struggling culture could have.
When I knew I was being called on this journey there was no other option, this is not something I could ever accomplish on my own. 11 months seems like a long time. $18,700 is a huge number. I have never lived farther than a 2 hour car ride away from my family. But I have a God who shows up. In order to obey, I have to continuously rely on God to provide. Through my obedience in this crazy adventure He is teaching me to be more and more dependent on Him in the big things and the small. I hope it will inspire you to do the same. You don’t have to travel the world to be obedient to God. And there are plenty of people in your own community who He wants to use you to reach… all you have to do is ask and He will show you.
