The day is finally here! Tomorrow I will be leaving the US for eleven months.
It’s been hard at times to wrap my mind around that. I keep wondering when it will actually “hit” me. Maybe not until I first set foot on Costa Rican soil. Or maybe not until I leave for my second country.
For the past few days, I’ve been in Atlanta, GA for some last minute World Race training called “launch.” My parents were able to be here the first two days for sessions and activities designed specifically for them. They also had the opportunity to meet my team. I was blessed to have them here to send me off and I think they were blessed by the experience as well.
Here is a picture of my team with our parents (and some siblings).
To be honest, my emotions have been all over the place the last few days. Yesterday was a particularly hard day for me. The reality of some of the challenges of the race is definitely starting to set in. My flesh response to the pressure and challenges when things don’t seem to be running as smoothly as I think they should be is not pretty. A lot of that has to do with my false sense of control, especially when I have responsibility in a certain capacity. I know this will be a huge stretching area the Lord will be working on in me throughout the race (obviously, He’s already begun and I haven’t even left the country yet!).
Abraham Lincoln once said:
Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”
Perhaps this is why He has allowed this struggle in my heart. He knows that flawless success would tempt me to start believing that I can do it by myself. That I don’t need Him to pick me up and lead me every step of the way. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I don’t want my story to be one of self-sufficiency but of Christ-dependency. I don’t want to go on this journey without Him, and I certainly don’t want to fall into the mindset that I don’t need Him. After all, this journey is about Him, and His glory. God wants to be glorified through my weakness, not just through what I perceive as my strengths. And in fact, isn’t it often the times when I am the most helpless and broken that He is the most glorified?
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Resting in the the truth of this promise.
Your prayers are much appreciated as I depart on this journey (that starts TOMORROW, AHHHH =D). I cannot thank you all enough for all the constant love and support you have shown me.
All glory to God,
Em
