The wake up call arrived to go to Costa Rica with the sound of my cell phone alarm, awakening me to reality.
Going to the airport at 4am to catch a plane backpacker style- full gear on our backs and ready to see the world, whether or not we actually felt ready was a different story.
Praying with our team of 30 people before we embarked to our first country on the Race, we felt more prepared than before because we knew we were not going on this journey alone, but with God leading us.
The emotion really hit me when I was on the phone with my sister the night before we would leave.
The feelings of leaving had been building slowly and bit by bit. The enormity of what I am about to start was starting to weigh on me.
In a good way.
I was overwhelmed with thankfulness.
Thankfulness for God’s goodness.
Thankfulness for this who could believe it miracle of $7000 raised in a month’s time to allow me to go on the World Race!
Thankfulness for people around me showing me love and care and support in amazing ways.
Thankfulness for people I didn’t know so generously donating towards the Race to allow me to go, confirming it was God sending me on this trip, touching people’s hearts to join me on this amazing adventure around the world.
Thankfulness for my dream becoming a reality.
Thankfulness for my new team.
Meet Team Radiant, the amazing team of 6 that I will be living with and serving with this year!
Thankfulness for teammates and former Racers and alumni showing love and sharing their time and resources to help me prepare for the Race and share the gear I needed!
Thankfulness for what God is doing in my heart and in my team’s hearts.
Thankfulness that even though I was afraid, God worked it all out.
That even when I felt like I couldn’t do this thing, I knew I could trust God and He would take care of me and equip me perfectly for His glory.
Thankfulness that God is making me brave.
Thankfulness for others’ sacrifices.
Thankfulness for the outpouring of love and generosity from people who believed in the journey God called me on and who believed in me.
Thankfulness for how God perfectly plans the journey He has for all of us- for you too- placing people in our paths and circumstances bending to allow us to walk closer to Him and to live the life He has called us to live.
What kind of life is God calling you to?
He has a mission for you too, wherever you are.
He wants to use your time, talents, resources.
No matter what they are.
When you say yes to God, He can and will do amazing things with your life as He writes your beautiful, incredible, adventure story!
In this time of new beginnings and new journeys and the New Year, emotions will come and can be a good thing when you can express them in a healthy way and process the change you are going through.
When you hide your emotions or deny them from yourself, you are not allowing yourself to be fully human as God made you.
He made emotions for a reason.
There’s a time for mourning and a time for dancing.
A time for tears and a time for laughter.
Tears can be cleansing and renewing as God does something new in your heart.
Don’t be afraid of your emotions, but ask yourself questions when you feel a strong emotion. Where is this coming from? Do I like this emotion? Do I feel free and loved when I feel this way?
Ask God if He wants to show you something through this and give it to Him. He is our Comforter, our Healer, our Loving Father or Papa who cares about us.
When you use emotions as a way to really engage with life’s constant changes or to gauge where you are, you can be freed and really grow as a person.
The emotions I feel now are awe and excitement and a sense of wonder that I am starting this adventure now after about 15 months since I first heard about the Race and applied- read the story here!
The emotions I also feel are being overwhelmed by how big this thing is and how I don’t always have it all “together”. But it’s a good thing I don’t need to, as God has it all together and He has planned this!
The emotions will come and go, just like the seasons.
“All of creation begins and ends with the Father longing for relationship with you as His beloved child… Did you get up this morning and hear the loving voice of your Father say, “Don’t worry that you don’t have everything together, that’s OK. I don’t expect you to get it perfect. I love you so much just the way you are. You, (insert your name here) are the son/daughter I love and in whom I am well pleased,” (Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship by Jack Frost).
I want to hear from you.
Comment below or message me by clicking the contact me link above or share a comment below with your thoughts.
What is the mission or cause that you feel drawn to?
What kind of life do you want to live?
What would be your dream life?
Dream bigger than life!
God can do anything and He has something unique and beautiful for you to accomplish though Him.
You don’t need to be the best at everything.
He created you perfectly.
He made you for a purpose.
He knows your heart.
He loves YOU. [Insert your name here and speak this aloud- it is for you- yes, you, reading this!]
The God of the Universe loves you and wants you to return to Him.
He wants you to say yes to Him.
He wants you to live your life for Him.
Because He made you for a purpose.
He made you for this time and He has a plan for you.
It’s time!
Will you say yes?
Shout Out Corner-
What’s important is that I make the most of this time that God has for me on this journey.
Shout out to my little brother, KJ for reminding me of this great truth and standing with me on this journey and for fighting for me to be able to go by supporting me beautifully!
To my sister Amy for encouraging me and walking with me on this journey. She walked with me for my fundraiser to help me raise funds to go on the Race in December when she visited home and spent her time helping me. For believing in me and this dream which is now happening!
To my mom for spending quality time with me before I left, talking until midnight about our hopes and dreams and about never giving up on our journey.
