The race isn’t easy.
Before I signed up for the race fears crippled me from turning in my application. It was a constant wrestling back and forth battle in my mind. I want to do this, I really don’t want to do this. Fears like: All of my friends are getting jobs with a salary and most of them are getting married- do I want to give that up? What if there are a lot of really big gross bugs? What if I have to eat gross food? What if I gain weight? I don’t want to take cold showers for a year. I don’t want to smell. A squatty-potty sounds dreadful. I don’t want to go a year without my bed- I sleep so good in my own room with my own bed. How could I possibly live out of a backpack for a year? I won’t drive my car for a year. Is this really what God wants me to do? It’s going to be really hard.
After 9 months into it let me tell you where I stand now:
Yes most of my friends all have a salary and have boyfriends, fiances, husbands
but I have my first true love, my relationship with God has grown immensely, I have gotten to love others, and I’ve been able to see the world- I wouldn’t trade it for anything
I still don’t like bugs
but I’ve gotten use to them
Most of the time I don’t get to choose what I eat
But I haven’t eaten any food that has completely grossed me out, sometimes we get to cook for ourselves, and I still have been able to find my favorite snacks- popcorn and ice cream
My diet isn’t the same so I have gained weight
but my identity is in God not in my body image
I have taken cold showers almost every month
but occasionally I get a hot one and I appreciate it SO much more
I’m sure I smell
but I’m with 43 other people who are in the same boat
Squatty-potties are all around the world
but I’ve actually kind of gotten to like them- minus the whole smelling really bad thing
Yes I sleep so good in my own bed
but I’ve actually slept well on the race even in my tent and on my sleeping pad
Living out of a backpack is hard
but I’ve come to realize that you have a lot more space than you think, I don’t need nearly half of the things I brought and everything you could possibly need is found all over the world
True I haven’t driven my car for a year
but I did get to drive a car in another country AND I’ve gotten to take all sorts of fun transportation
If God puts something on your heart and it’s something you can’t stop thinking about, its something He wants you to do. He loves you, adores you, and wants the best for you. There is no fear in God’s will because perfect love casts out all fear. Don’t be afraid of what He is putting on your heart or question if its for you because He wants the best for you and let me tell you it’s been the most amazing journey of my life. Yes it’s been hard. Yes it’s been long. But the experiences, lessons, friendships, stories, miracles, revelations, and intimacy with him go far beyond any fear that I ever had. I’ve learned to never let fear dictate what I do or don’t do.
He is calling. Will you go?
