I am at my final debrief of the World Race in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua! I can hardly believe that it’s coming to an end. Some days I sat in awe of the life that I was blessed with, and other days my heart longed for the comforts of home. This year has been one of the most thrilling, exciting, most adventurous years of my life, but also a year that has shown me new levels of perseverance and discomfort.
As the Race comes to a close, I have done a lot of reflecting on this year—on the miracles, the heartbreak, the people, and most of all, what the Lord has been doing in every circumstance. I have seen so much and gained crazy perspectives that not many people are privileged to have. I’ve seen poverty beyond belief but the Lord’s provision and comfort in the midst of that. I’ve reached the end of my rope again and again, and felt my Father say, “It’s okay, beloved.” I’ve cried and sweat and bled and ran and laughed and danced. I’ve walked across borders and swam in lagoons and hiked mountains and held children. I’ve taught and preached and shoveled and prayed.
My memories run through my mind and I am amazed at all that I have seen and done. All of my experiences have taught me so much, but there is one lesson that trumps them all. My circumnavigation of the globe—13 countries, 11 months—have given way to a more important journey:
The 12-inch journey.
I’ve been a Christian for a long time. I gave my life to Jesus a while ago, and have been pretty consistent in that ever since. But for all my dedication and service, how much did I really understand God’s heart for me? How much do I really know God’s love for me? How much do I really believe that He is all that matters?
It’s not a far distance from your head to your heart. Only about a foot. 12 inches. But it is one of the most difficult and impassable journeys that man has ever known. There is so much knowledge about God that we have floating up in our head that has yet to sink into our heart and permeate the core of our being. Head knowledge is good, but it doesn’t overflow, and it doesn’t change things.
More importantly than my journey around the world has been the journey from my head to my heart. Jesus is all that matters. Intimacy with the Father is all that matters.
Everywhere I’ve gone I’ve seen this truth played out again and again. People EVERYWHERE around the whole WORLD have the thought, “Well, if I just had _________, then it’d be okay/God would be good/my life would be perfect.”
In India, “If my daughter could get an education…”
In Rwanda, “If I had a job…”
In Malaysia, “If I could just move to America…”
In Ethiopia, “If my mom would be healed…”
In Guatemala, “If we had a bigger house…”
In Nepal, “If my husband would come back…”
Everywhere in the world, “If we had more money…”
Here’s the catch, in America, we have almost all of those things! We make more money in an hour than some people make in a month. We live in comparatively humongous homes. We have reliable health care. We have free, quality public education. We have a government who gives us money when we’re unemployed so no one starves. But yet, it’s not enough. We have the same craving for fulfillment and love, just different “ifs.”
That’s because the fulfillment of desire is achieved by nothing and no one other than the Creator of desire. God wants your heart! He wants all of you! Nothing else matters but intimacy with Him. Nothing. All that you want, all that you need, pales in comparison to your inherent desire to be loved by your Father. It’s often disguised and distorted, but if the world has taught me one thing at all, it’s that Jesus is all that matters.
I wish that I had more eloquent words to express how this truth has become so evident to me this year, but there are none. Words only build head knowledge. But Jesus is the giver of heart knowledge, and the good news is that He has a plan to blow your mind with His love and grace, you just have to knock.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks find; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
