God > Spiders

Two months after I signed up to go on The World Race, I read a blog on the July 2013 Squad Website titled "Don't Sign Up for the World Race!" Of course, it struck my interest, so I read it. It basically gave me thirteen reasons why someone SHOULDN'T go on The World Race. The reasons included things like, "Don't go on The World Race if you need a bed to sleep." I'm cool with that. I can sleep in the most uncomfortable places and in the most awkward positions. Other one was, "Don't sign up for The World Race if you depend on clean bathrooms." If you saw my bathroom, you would know why this would not be a concern. As I finished reading the blog, I realized that I had no problems with any of the reasons…except for one. 

The one reason that I have had the hardest time getting over is, "Don't go on The World Race if you hate snakes, spiders, mosquitos, and other strange bugs." Actually, I only have problems with two parts of this reason: SPIDERS and OTHER STANGE BUGS I will humbly admit that I have an intense fear of spiders and insects. I will avoid them at all costs. Here are a few of instances: 

1. Ever since I moved out into the country last July, I have seen more spiders than I care to think about. If I open the front door to leave for work and see one chilling right on the other side of it, I will close the door, turn around, and use the side door.
2. I was housesitting for some friends a couple of years ago. The first night I was there, I went to take a shower. I drew back the curtain and saw a massive spider in the corner of the tub. I nonchalantly closed the curtain and walked out of the bathroom. The next morning, I went to see if it was gone. It was still there. I went about my day. When I returned later than evening, it was still sitting there. Needless to say, I didn't shower for a couple of days.
3. My last example happened this past summer. It was a nice day, so I decided to drive with my windows rolled down. I was on my way to my Dad's house. As I was driving, a butterfly (yes, a butterfly) flew into my car. I panicked, called my dad, and drove all the way there leaning against the driver's side of the car with my head and shoulders nearly out the window. 

As you can see, my fear of spiders and insects is legitimate: however, by the grace of God, I have made progress! Just last week, I was getting ready for work in my very small bathroom. As I was getting dressed, I saw a spider scurry from underneath the rug. It looked a lot like this: 

Okay. That might be an exaggeration. It was *maybe* the size of a dime, but still, a spider is a spider in my opinion. Before signing up for The World Race, my response would have been to: A) Call my Mom, B) Use a different bathroom, or C) Find a vacuum with at least a ten-foot attachment to suck it up. You would be pleased to know that I didn't do any of these things. I calmly finished getting dressed, brushed my teeth, and put gel in my hair. The whole time, I kept saying to myself, "GOD is bigger than this SPIDER. GOD is bigger than this spider. GOD is bigger than this spider." It worked!

You might think this is a pretty silly blog, but it's definitely not to me. If I let spiders and insects keep me from going on The World Race, I'd basically be saying, "My fear of spiders is so big that God can't even handle it." Maybe your fear isn't spiders. Maybe it's fear of not raising enought money. Maybe it's fear of not clicking with your Squad mates. Maybe it's fear of something happening to one of your family members while you're gone. Maybe it's fear of the danger you'll find yourself in while in Third World countries. 

My biggest fear going on The World Race, besides spiders and insects, is the unknown. I'm picking up and leaving BOTH my jobs. What's going to happen on June 1, 2014, my first day back from The World Race? Am I going to have a job? Am I going to have a car? Am I going to have a place to live? Those are all pretty serious concerns that I think and pray about on a daily basis. However, if I let them hold me back, I WILL (not might) be missing out on the biggest blessing God could ever give me – letting little 'ol me be His hands and feet to this hurting and broken world.  

I've heard it said that our biggest fear is what we trust God with the least. The question for me is, "Am I wiling to trust God with the unknown?" The answer is YES! What is unknown to me is not unknown to Him. He would not have called me to go on The World Race if He didn't have everything planned out. Just because I can't see my future doesn't mean there isn't one there. There's no need to worry. There's no need to doubt. I AM COUNTING ON GOD!