I often get asked why I am doing the World Race. Why am I quitting my full time job, raising almost $18,000, and giving up a year of my life?! Well this is why…
- God told me too. At first, I ran. I ran just like Jonah. The World Race didn’t fit into my plan, but God’s plans never really do. After college, I really wrestled with the idea of applying. I had experienced summers in Africa, and I had fallen in love with the people there. Every time I came home I felt like I left apart of my heart overseas. So I made a deal with God, if I was suppose to go on the World Race… He would allow it to ALWAYS be on my mind. That I would lose sleep over it. That I couldn’t escape the thought of it. If all that happened, I would apply. No joke, I couldn’t sleep, the World Race was always popping up on my Facebook and Instagram, I would watch the videos of racers already on the race and just sit in my bed crying! So I applied. When I applied, I told God… if I am suppose to go, I will be accepted. Sure enough, I got accepted and had a phone interview within the next 2 weeks. God has opened these doors for me that I would have NEVER opened willingly on my own. So I go.
- I have this unexplainable desire to live my life like the apostles. I want to be like Peter and drop my net to follow Jesus. I want to follow Christ with everything I have, no matter the cost. I want my life to be consumed with the Gospel. I want to watch Jesus heal people, physically and spiritually (even though it terrifies me a little). I want to blindly follow Jesus. I want to be okay with not having a plan. These are all ‘wants’ which means my actions don’t always follow suit. Even though I often allow my flesh to win the battle of obedience, I know one thing is for sure… The Gospel is FOR REAL. Jesus is real. The cross is real. Heaven and hell are real. The apostles knew that and they had to tell people. I have tasted and seen that God is good. So I go.
- I have a burden for the broken. I have heard stories of brokenness from children who have lost their parents due to AIDS. I have heard stories from teenagers who remember exact day when their parents didn’t want them anymore. I have held a child with special needs who was literally thrown away because of her physical appearance. I have seen families mourn over the lost of a loved one. And I have had my fair share of brokenness. There is so much pain in this world. But what kills me in all of the heartache is… there are people in the midst of their brokenness with NO hope. They have never felt the peace that surpasses all understanding. They do not know the Name of Jesus and the power in His Name. Having hope doesn’t mean we don’t hurt, it means our souls can be sustained and anchored to finish our race well! I want people to know that! So I go.
- I cried out, “Send me Lord! I will go”. In November 2011 I sat in a room full of college students during a chapel service bawling my eyes out… because I knew God would call me to do something hard, to do something scary! I had NO idea what it would be. All I knew was, my yes is at the alter. So I go.
- God calls us to be strong and courageous. Joshua 1:9 urges us as Christ followers to be brave and take risks. BE BRAVE and TAKE RISKS. Now I didn’t say be stupid and make poor choices. All I am saying is at the end of that verse it says “for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” There is a risk involved in obeying God and following Jesus, because obeying God is to pursue the invisible over the visible. But I promise you, that risk is worth it… it is worth it, because of faith. With faith, supernatural miracles will happen. With faith, there is reward. So I go.
So here I am… 7 months out, fixing to travel the world for the sake of the Gospel. Am I scared, absolutely. Am I excited, absolutely. I feel like I am fixing to have a baby. (And yes I know I do not know what that is like, but let me explain). When parents find out they are having a baby, all sorts of emotions come into play. Excitement, pure panic, anxiousness, joy… it is like a rollercoaster. I mean, come on, a little human is coming into the world in 9 months, whether you are ready or not. That is me!! The world is my baby. I am terrified, yet thrilled. But I am being brave and taking the risk… I am radically stepping out in faith.
Jesus, You are good. I give You my everything. I am surrendered at Your alter.
