Just like my new favorite Disney heroine, Moana, I’ve been staring at the edge of the water, long as I can remember, never really knowing why. Since 2011, the World Race has been that shoreline in my heart, calling out to me in the quiet moments of peace in my life. Years ago, one of my church camp counselors told me about it, and some part of my heart immediately resonated with its mission. At the same time, another part of my heart seized up in fear at what it might require from me. Despite my convictions, I have run away from, tried to forget about, or simply ignored the call on my heart to leap out of my comfort zone by committing to a long-term mission trip like the World Race.
I knew that God moved in mysterious ways, but I didn’t know that He would use a Disney Princess to completely wring my heart out of its paralyzed state. I’ve sat through countless sermons, read apologetic novels, and sought guidance from many mentors. Yet, as I sat watching Moana struggle between continuing down the path of comfort or risking her future on the tugs of her heart, God finally let my heart break free from all that had held me back. I began to truly find peace. That same old fearful trap faded into the background as He reminded me that the story of Moana is as old as the story of Abraham. I am not alone. Now it is impossible for me to listen to How Far I’ll Go without imagining Jesus as the light across the horizon, daring me to cross that line between sand and sea in search of more of Him.
One critical lesson that helped me reach this point of trust in the Lord can be summarized in John 15:9, when Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” Two sentences, fifteen words, one deep truth. It has been my earnest goal over the last six months to really seek after that command. Because it really is a command. The first sentence is declarative, and the second is imperative. Why have I spent so much energy trying to follow every other command or implication found in the Bible, while neglecting to follow the most crucial command of all?
Remain in, Continue in, Abide in my Love. What does that really mean? What does it look like to Abide in Jesus’ love? I missed this for so long that it has taken me months to actually process it on a level that allows me to implement it in my daily life. For me, Abiding in His love means starting each day with a simple dose of the Gospel. My quiet times are not analytical nor are they complex, although there was a time when they used to be. Instead, I try to remind myself every single day that Jesus LOVES me. It takes time to let it sink in. Some mornings it is easier to understand than others, but every day must start with the reminder that the Gospel is not just a series of events. The Gospel is a truth: You Are Loved. The Cross is merely a mechanism for expressing that love. Every other truth cannot be fully understood without a firm grasp on this one. Why is it that I thought I could get by without this daily reminder?
When I feel loved, I am capable of nearly anything. When my parents love me, I climb mountains. When my siblings love me, I rise to every occasion. When my friends love me, my insecurities diminish. When strangers love me, my personality flourishes. But when my God loves me, I move mountains, I soar past any occasion, I forget all insecurities, and I find my true personality. No other power on earth would be capable of convincing this scared, insecure, stubborn young man to join the World Race.
The journey to this post has been a months long roller coaster of prayer, wild plot twists, and moments where I nearly lost the peace that God laid on my heart. I am still the same Coleman that I have always been, no wiser, no smarter, and no better equipped to face the challenge of sharing the Gospel outside the United States for such a long period of time. There will be failures and there will be moments of panic left to embrace, but I look forward to the plans He has to develop me into the kind of man He wants me to be. There will be many posts left to come, some spiritual and some practical. I can’t wait to elaborate on some of the awesome things God has done in my life since I started trusting Him with my future. For now, I wanted to make my commitment public for all the world to see. I look forward to sharing this journey with every one of you. Abide in His Love.
PS – If you feel led to be the wind in my sails, I would love to have your support through prayer, encouragement, or donations over the next several months as I prepare to launch in January! Don’t be strangers!
