For some reason I have had the most difficult time coming up with words to explain training camp so bear with me through this post. It was an incredible yet challenging week filled with laughter, sweat tears, joy, more sweat, hunger, frustration, peace, exhaustion, even more sweat, and new people.
Going into training camp I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t know anyone and I just felt so under prepared for camp. But something amazing happened at training camp. I felt at home the minute I got there. I felt at home even though there was no bed besides a sleeping pad and 44 new people surrounded me. I felt at home when we ate together, worshiped together, and when we laughed together. Once I felt at home, I no longer felt like I was under prepared. God had prepared me for camp without me even knowing.
He had prepared me for the times I would encounter Him that week during worship, prayer, and even just sitting at meal times. He had prepared for the crazy sleeping scenarios we embraced throughout the week. As the week went on the Lord continued to prepare me for this awesome journey ahead of my squad mates and me. He used all those conversations, sleeping arrangements, interesting meals, and worship to show me where I needed to grow and what my next step is in this journey.
One of the things that God revealed one of the first nights is how damaging it can be to harbor anger against someone. Forgiveness is one of the most difficult gifts to embrace from God, because not only do I get to receive it, but it is also meant for me to extend to others. I thought I was someone who had patience and embraced forgiveness, but the Lord showed me that week that this was not true.
He revealed to me where I had been refusing to extend grace and love and instead giving anger and resentment. It was hard to accept that I have been wrong, especially when I think of all the hurt and fear that has resulted because of others. As I dug deeper, God showed me that this resentment and anger not only was damaging to my relationship with others, but it was damaging my relationship with Him. I had cut myself off from God. I had cut myself off from those I felt resentment towards. I had brought my fears about those people who have hurt me to training camp. Those fears were taking over. They were causing me to not be as open as I could be.
The awesome thing about God is that once He revealed this problem, He didn’t just leave me with it to deal with it. He stayed with me. He worked with me on it. He demonstrated to me over and over throughout the week that those fears mean nothing to Him. He also showed me where I need to extend grace and forgiveness in my life.
Forgiveness is a process. It can be a long and tiring process, but also life-giving. And that is what God is about. Life.
As I go into these last few weeks at home, I will be continuing to work through this process of forgiveness. I will continue to seek His grace and embrace opportunities to extend that grace to others. I will seek life in Him.
In God’s Love,
Emily
P.S. Thank you for your continued support on this journey! As you can see I have just over $4,000 in my account which is amazing! However, in order to launch September 5th I need $7,500 in my account. I need your help and your partnership so that we can continue this journey together! I need all this $7,500 in my account by August 22nd! If you haven’t partnered with me financially yet and want to, now would be the perfect time! 🙂 Thank you again for your support! As always feel free to contact me if you have any questions or just want to know more about my journey on the World Race.
