Wow! First of all, I just have to take a second to say thank you to all of you who have supported my World Race so far. Because of y’all, I met my first fundraising deadline and I am officially cleared for training camp. I leave in about two weeks! The next challenge is getting gear, and meeting my next fundraising deadline. It all can seem a little overwhelming at times, but with your support and God’s guidance it is far from impossible.
Now for the purpose of this blog…
There has been a reoccurring situation in my life lately that has inspired me to continue to grow, so I am going to attempt to share it with all of you the best that I can.
For those of you who don’t know, I currently work at Dick’s Sporting Goods. I love my job, the people I work with, and the ministry it allows me to do everyday. I get a small glimpse into people’s lives. I hear about the things they are excited about, and about the things they are struggling with. You would be surprised how much people tell cashiers! To me, it’s beautiful because although none of my customers ever really know it, I get to pray for them right there in the moments where they choose to share part of their lives with me. I pray knowing that although I will never know how their situations turn out, God has them and will be with them through all of it.
Often, as I wait for a customer’s receipt, I prop my hand up on the printer and that’s when they see it, the tattoo on my arm that says “enough.” Some laugh and think I’m a stupid millennial who got a dumb tattoo out of frustration about a situation, some smile and compliment the script, but many are truly intrigued. I get asked at least once a day what my tattoo means. For time’s sake, I usually reply with, “Well, I’m a Christian and it just serves as my reminder that the Lord is always enough.” But it’s that and so much more…
I’ve struggled with doubt for years, doubting God, his love, his power, doubting myself, my abilities, and my worth. I still have to work on changing this mindset daily. When fear strikes or when things get hard, my tendency has always been to think horribly about myself and not trust God with the situation. Though this tendency has gotten A LOT better than it used to be as I continue to embrace the freedom the Lord is giving me, these negative thoughts can still rear their ugly head. This simple word always calms me down, reminds me who I am, whose I am, and that God is in control. It’s my reminder that God will Always. Be. Enough. He will always provide, protect, love, and guide. He is bigger than any messed up situation, fundraising deadline, or body image issue that could ever creep in. He is bigger than the circumstances that from my vantage point seem overwhelming. It’s my reminder that I am a masterpiece created by the maker of the universe, and I was created to be enough for whatever it is He made me for. I am a priceless daughter of the king, bought with a price, and He loves me enough to have sent his son to die on a cross to cover my sins because I am worth it, and so are you. I don’t have to let the doubt take over, because I serve God, the solid rock, the firm foundation. So I hope you remember that no matter what situation seems daunting to you in the moment, or how many people try to tell you that you aren’t perfect just the way you are, God is enough and you are enough.
I still have so much more to say about this topic, and I know it will be a theme throughout my time on the race. One day I’ll hit the nail on the head and be able to explain all of this in a way that my heart is content with, but for now this will have to do. Stay tuned for more updates, folks.
