At once, they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:20
Simon and Andrew were just fishing. They were just out on another day of work. They didn’t expect anything to happen but when Jesus said to come, they dropped everything and went. As they were leaving, they saw James and John with their father Zebedee. Jesus called them too and they immediately left their father and followed Him.
I could stay.
I could get my Bachelors in two years and then go.
I could pray a little bit more.
I could give to another organization.
I could listen to other stories of missionaries.
I could just give up another summer.
I could do one more devotional.
Maybe this hunger would be fulfilled then? But maybe it won’t be.
Maybe I’ll be even more hungry for Jesus.
Maybe this quench to know Him will never stop. But you know what, I hope it doesn’t.
I could stay in the comforts of home and familiarity and never have to go without a hot shower again. But I don’t want to. I don’t want to live in a bubble of protection that never lets me see the actual hurt and the work that Jesus is doing.
I’ve come to this place in my life where I’m full but I’m not satisfied. This longing to have more of You.
Jesus is calling me. He’s calling me to cross the oceans and lands to work and follow Him. It’s not a free ride and a summer vacation. Although, I’m sure I’ll get to experience a lot of adventures I’m signing up for 9 months of uncomfortable situations that stretch my trust in God more than I can imagine.
I could stay. But God is calling me to go.
So forgive me if I sometimes forget that. Because I will.
But remind me, please?
Remind me throughout these situations and the moments where I don’t think I’ll be able to make it. Like when I my fundraising goal seems way too far to reach. Or the times that God puts my friendships on the line and breaks them apart. Or when I feel the spirit of fear and doubt in my heart and I’m hesitant to leave.
Remind me that this is what He wants for me. All these times where I feel like I just can’t anymore, remind me of the good. The good that’s to come and the good that’s around me.
He wouldn’t call me for something he’s not preparing me for.
Today, I feel good about the race. I feel excited and anxious to meet my team even though training camp is 193 days away and my launch date is 249 days away. I feel secure in the decision that God is calling me.
But tomorrow I might not be.
So what can you do?
Pray for me. Pray for my heart and that I’ll listen for to the words and directions that God is calling me to. Pray that Jesus wrecks my world leading up to August and that on the race He opens my eyes even more.
Pray for my friends and family that are surrounding me with support because it’s not easy to just watch loved ones leave.
Pray for my supporters, and the people that are mentoring me each day.
Pray for yourself, just as I am praying for you, and see if God is calling you to become apart of my journey too. Because, God can use you while He’s using me.
I wrote in my journal the other day that because I’m a sinner I probably should receive a little less grace and be loved a little less. But I don’t because of the good works that Jesus is doing in me and through me.
I could stay here. But I’m not.
I want to experience the dependence of Jesus each day and incorporate that in my own life. I want Jesus to wreck my world! But more importantly, I want to make sure that my faith is just as strong as Simon, Andrew, James and John, that if Jesus came to me right now in my home, that I would leave everything behind and follow him.
Would you leave everything to follow Jesus?
and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
Matthew 4:22
