One of the most amazing things about the World Race is that it encourages…let me rephrase…pushes us into not only being aware of God’s power, but walking in it. All of the neat, structural fragments of our Sunday school perceptions of God are shattered. I believed in prayer before the Race. All of us did. But my prayers were safe. Supernatural healing, hearing God speak, and other miracles just weren’t culturally relevant anymore. Little did I know what was in store.
I’ve seen God move this year in incredible ways. I’ve shared stories about his hand of provision in our lives, like our journey to Albania. There are countless stories in which we’ve seen specific tangible results from prayer. However, it was never enough. Because World Racers are taught to walk in expectancy of miracles, miracles occur often. I remember watching a video before the Race in which a team attempted to walk on water. (It didn’t work, but the video is quite funny). I’ve read blogs about people receiving sight. If you follow my squad mates’ blogs, you may have read about the child in Uganda that was hit by a motorcyle. He was lying on the road with no life in him. It seemed hopeless, but the Racers prayed. Sure enough, the child began breathing. I was excited to experience my first miracle as well.
In Ireland, we prayed for a young man that was deaf. We prayed hard. But he still couldn’t hear.
In Romania, we prayed for a boy in a wheelchair to walk. He didn’t.
In Cambodia, we prayed for a blind man to see. He still couldn’t.
I kept waiting. I grew impatient as I read more and more stories of supernatural occurances. Is there something wrong with me? Is it my lack of faith that’s preventing these things from happening? When do I get my miracle?
There are only 17 days left on the World Race. I still haven’t seen an extravagant act of God’s supernatural hand in the physical sense. But God has shown me that I have gotten my miracle after all. I’m convinced more and more each day that the greatest miracle of all is a changed heart. Bodies can heal themselves, but the true power of God is most evident in inner transformation. So many people are looking for proof of the Divine in the physical realm. They want something tangible, something their eyes can see. So did I. But the greatest miracle of all is God would love us, use us, and change us.
There are some things I just can’t do myself, and that is when the power of God is truly displayed. The centerpoint of my testimony is an incredible transformation of heart over the past few years. I harbored bitterness, hate, and unforgiveness. I’ve seen that it’s not possible out of our own will to have love and compassion for someone who blatantly doesn’t deserve it. It goes against everything natural thing within us. It’s only through the intervention of Christ that forgiveness of great magnitude is possible. Only he can teach us to love in this manner. He changed my heart then, and he’s changing it still. At times, I wonder how much I’ve really changed over this year. In a lot of ways, I expected the Race to “fix” me. I still struggle with many of the same things I did before I left. I still doubt myself. I’m still trying to work through past hurts. I still have trouble sharing my soul with people. I’m still just a broken sinner. But I know he’s not through with me yet.
I’ve never seen a deaf person receive the gift of hearing, but I’ve heard God’s voice speak to me. He tells me that’s I’m loved. That he delights in me.
I’ve never seen someone be raised from the dead, but God’s raised me from despair time and time again. He’s always been there.
When I was in Sunday school, we would learn about the time
Moses split the sea in two, Jesus made the water wine
And I remember feeling sad miracles don’t happen still
Now I can’t keep track, ’cause everything’s a miracle.
God’s still in the miracle business. He’s still in the transformation business. I haven’t written a song in years, but I started working on this one during a long bus ride in Israel. I hope it can further convey the heart behind this blog. I look forward to witnessing so many more beautiful miracles as this journey ends and another begins.
You gently but persistently called to my heart
Take up your cross and follow me
Through valleys and mountains, trial and triumph
Trust, though you don’t know where this adventure may lead
So I take each step in expectancy
To see your glory revealed
To reach out my hand and touch the hem of your power
To see the broken healed
I’ve never walked on water
Or made the dead to rise
I haven’t fed five-thousand
Or opened blinded eyes
So many signs and wonders
I’ve longed so desperately to see
But the greatest miracle, now I can say
You’re moving mountains in me.
You’ve turned my water to wine so sweet
You spoke and the seas did part
Your mercy rains down like manna from Heaven
You’ve brought resurrection to my heart.
I’ve never walked on water
Or made the dead to rise
I haven’t fed five-thousand
Or opened blinded eyes
So many signs and wonders
I’ve longed so desperately to see
But the greatest miracle, now I can say
You’re moving mountains in me.
And spoken life to my dreams
Through this journey set to change the world
The change is in me.
You found me crippled and lame
Yet you called me to rise
To take up my mat of brokenness
And fly
Or made the dead to rise
I haven’t fed five-thousand
Or opened blinded eyes
So many signs and wonders
I’ve longed so desperately to see
But the greatest miracle, now I can say
You’re moving mountains in me.
