Before finding out about the World Race, I was in a season of waiting. God was growing me and teaching me how to fully trust Him no matter what.
It was funny timing when I truly began walking with the Lord. I noticed God changing my heart about a month after I finally got a job in the music industry in Nashville; a dream I had been working towards since I was a freshman in college.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26
The Lord was clearly showing me that He had different plans for my life, but He didn’t show me what those plans were quite yet. At first, I thought God was leading me towards a job in the non profit sector, so I began looking for jobs that fit that description. I had done a lot of non profit related work in college, so this made sense. Don’t get me wrong, it was hard for me to accept that God was calling me away from the music industry. I had spent the last five years doing everything I could to set myself up to work in this field (including five internships throughout college, moving to Nashville right after graduation, and working at a restaurant for ten months until I found my first job). It was hard for me to just give that all up because I felt like I was just throwing all of my hard work away, but through months of praying, it was clear the Lord had other plans for me. So I continued looking for non profit jobs. Opportunities and some interviews would come and go, but nothing ever worked out. Then I realized something. Through doing the “Experiencing God” study at bible study, the Lord showed me that I was seeking more of what He could give me, rather than seeking Him alone. In simpler terms, I was looking at God for the next job He could give me that would make me happy, rather than desiring to simply get to know Him better. This made me take a step back and just stop looking for jobs. Not searching for my next opportunity challenged me to find my joy in the Lord, rather than in my job circumstances. When I stopped searching for what God could give me, I was better able to focus on what God was trying to teach me in my current circumstances at that time. Also during studying “Experiencing God”, the Lord placed the idea in my heart about going into ministry. At first this idea did not seem like me at all, but through the next few months, God changed my heart. The Lord made me see that what truly brought be the most joy was seeing people come to know Jesus personally and having Him change your life. Over the next few months, I had some interviews for ministry based positions, but none ever worked out.
By this point, I was confused and questioning if God was ever going to provide me with His next steps He had planned for my life. I was saying, “God, how much longer do you want me to wait?? Is there something I’m not understanding that you want to teach me?” But praise the Lord, I have some awesome supportive friends who point me in the right direction when I start to lose hope.
A few weeks after that (and over a year since God placed it on my heart that I was not meant to work in the music industry), THE RAIN CAME. I was at bible study and heard one of the women talking about a mission trip. I asked her what she was talking about and it happened to be the World Race. She said it was an 11 month, 11 country mission trip, and I was immediately very intrigued. After bible study, I went to work (we have early morning bible study) and started researching the World Race. Right away, I was overcome with such a sense of peace, joy, and excitement that I just KNEW (it was undeniable) this was what God has planned for me next and what I had been praying about over the past year.
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:7
I was legit giddy with excitement! I just felt like jumping up and down. Fast forward to today (that was around a month ago), I’m now accepted to the World Race and God has been blowing my mind with His goodness. I knew my first fundraising deadline to hit was $5,000,00 by July 20th. I was pretty stressed about this, but God’s peace kept pushing me forward. But, only FIVE DAYS after announcing my fundraising efforts, I was able to raise WAY over $5,000.00. I even received an anonymous $4,350.00 donation! All of these blessings I’ve taken as confirmations from God that I’m right where He wants me. I’ve never felt more confident that I’m directly in the middle of God’s will for my life. It’s such a sweet, sweet unexplainable feeling.
So I encourage you, if you’re in a dry season wondering what God has in store for you, don’t stop pressing into God. Don’t let your frustration and impatience get to you. If you do, you’ll end up making rash decisions just to get out of your current circumstances. This is SO NOT WORTH IT because I’m telling you, if you lean in closer to the Lord and wait a little longer, God will send the rain!!!
“For the dry, season is over
There is a cloud, beginning to swell
To the skies, heavy with blessing
Lift your eyes, offer your heart
Jesus Christ, opened the heavens
Now we receive, the Spirit of God
We receive your rain
We receive your rain”
“There Is a Cloud” by Elevation Worship
