The world race is like a pressure cooker. All sorts of growth, discovery, and change happens exponentially quicker than in “the real world.” I have learned a lot this month, and I wanted to share it—not only so my supporters get a glimpse of what is going on but also for years from now when I want to reminisce on this season of my life and remember what my eyes were opened up to and how my life was changed.
1. Patience and grace
God is patient with us and he gives us grace. We need to be like that to ourselves too. This doesn’t mean to use patience and grace as an excuse to be stagnant or to keep indulging in behaviors that might not be life giving. Sometimes big changes and growth happens slowly. Just like a child learning to walk. They will take their first steps and be so wobbly. Children aren’t expected to be expert walkers immediately after taking their first steps. We want them to learn on their own, so we will stand right next to them and encourage them, but we are right there by their side if they need a hand. I think God does the same thing with us.
2. Vulnerability
Vulnerability has so much power to set us free. I learned way more about this subject, but I already wrote a detailed blog about it a few weeks back. Click HERE to read it. With this also comes looking at past hurts and pains right in the face and addressing them. Voicing them out loud. Figuring out the connections between things you’re feeling now, the fruit it’s producing, and facing the problem right at the root.
3. Thankfulness
Living life in a posture of thankfulness makes it so much more enjoyable. Because of the staggering level of privilege just simply from being a white American, I have a chance to follow my heart. I am so thankful for the passions and dreams God has given me and the ability to chase after them. I am thankful for what he is teaching me in this season. And I am thankful for my teammates that I get to walk this journey with.
4. God knows
Once again, this is a subject I already blogged about. Click HERE to read it. Basically over and over this month, God has turned situations that I might not consider to be good into something greater than I could have imagined. One example I’ve never shared before: when I was put in a team with the 4 other women I’ll be with for the first few months of the race, I cried. So much. I didn’t think it would work out. I didn’t know anything about these girls. I didn’t know how I could possibly love them unconditionally or how they could do the same for me. Wow. I laugh thinking back at those thoughts. Team Overflow has been an IMMENSE blessing to me. I have something so special with my team that I wouldn’t have had if I would have been in charge of putting together my own team.
5. We need to know who we are
Our host, Erinn, talked to us ladies one night about identity. She started by asking “who are you?” Erinn reminded us that this question is supposed to be a friend- not an enemy. It’s important to know who we are according to who God says we are. If we don’t know our identity, we will search for it in lies.
6. The unknown doesn’t have to be scary
Proverbs 3:5-6 comes to my mind. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” I’ve had to repeat to myself many times *insert something I’m unsure about*, but I trust. Three words: but I trust. I wholeheartedly believe that God is working out all things for the good. He has a plan for every single one of us. The unknown doesn’t have to be scary. This has been a good reminder to me specifically when my mind wanders about what life after the race will look like.
With love,
Hals
