Hi everyone!!! My name is Chandler Adams and I am so excited to be going on the world race!! I wanted to share with anyone who might be reading what led me here.
I have been a “Christian” my entire life. I grew up going to church and went to a Christian school K-12th. I mostly just went through the motions of being a Christian for the first 22 years of my life. I had no relationship with God and didn’t make much of an effort to build one. I don’t know exactly how to explain it but that all changed this past summer.
I don’t even really know what happened this summer…something in me just changed. I made up my mind that I needed something more in my life. I was sick of going through all the motions of being a Christian without actually having a relationship with God. That’s when I realized I needed that relationship and that it was going to take work. So, I decided to start a Bible study I found on Instagram and made myself sit down and read my Bible and pray. It was honestly weird and a little overwhelming; I felt like I wasn’t doing it right. I knew I needed someone to help me, but I didn’t know how to start that conversation. I have amazing people in my life, but I felt too ashamed and uncomfortable to bring up my relationship with God with any of them.
That is why I believe God puts people in our lives that we didn’t realize we needed. So, all of that led up to this part of my story…
I have thought about doing the world race since I was a sophomore in high school. I never actually thought I would do it, but I also never completely let go of the idea. This summer I started thinking about it more and said to my sister that I would definitely do it, but I wish I could do it for a shorter period of time. The next day my friend told me about the semester trips which are just 3 months instead of the 11. I immediately went and applied for it, then a week later I had my phone interview, and the next week I was accepted.
In a matter of 3 weeks I had heard about it, applied, and been accepted. I was beyond excited, but for some reason I still could not stop thinking about the 11-month race.
When I had my acceptance call I asked about what would happen if I decided to do the 11-month race instead. I had absolutely no intentions of doing the 11-month race, but for some reason I wanted to know if that was still an option. He told me that I could do the 11-month race if I changed my mind, but that I would need to decide soon. I am extremely indecisive, so I gave myself one week to pray about it and talk it over with my family and some friends. I also have struggled with anxiety for most of my life and thinking about this decision did not help at all.
My acceptance call was on Monday; I told myself I really wanted to decide by Friday. On Tuesday I talked it over with a ton of people and still had no idea what I should do. Then on Wednesday this girl, Alex, who I had followed her entire race, asked if I wanted to facetime to talk about everything. So, on Wednesday afternoon we facetimed. It was a good conversation, I asked probably a million questions about the world race.
At the end of the conversation, she asked if she could pray for me. I honestly don’t remember exactly what she said in the prayer, but I started crying and immediately felt so much peace about the decision.
I went into this conversation still pretty sure I was going to do the 3-month semester trip.
Right after that prayer I realized I was going on the 11-month world race. It was the coolest thing, I no longer felt any anxiety, the decision felt so clear. So, on Friday I called the guy back and told him I was wanting to go on the 11-month race!!
Back to 6 months ago when I felt overwhelmed with my walk with God — I knew I needed help but had no idea who to ask. God puts the people in our lives we never knew we needed, and for that I am so thankful. My friend Alex, who talked and prayed for me, has been now been mentoring me. God put someone in my life who continuously helps me in my walk with Him.
I am not trying to sit here and act like I am some perfect person who has completely changed in the past 6 months. I still struggle with a lot of the same things I did before. I struggle to grow and build my relationship with God. I struggle to love others and myself. I struggle with shame, insecurities, and feelings of being unworthy or not being “good enough.”
The difference now is that I know without one doubt in my mind that God loves me. I know that God wants to take all of those feelings of shame, insecurity, and unworthiness, and carry it all for me. Because of Jesus we receive grace upon grace!!!
Lastly, I want to end with this verse that I have continuously come back to these past few months. Jeremiah 29:19:
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
If you are still reading this, Thank you!!!
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