Hello everyone, and welcome back to my blog! I have been in the Dominican Republic for 20 days now— it’s crazy that I have been on the World Race for almost a month. I received exciting news that my team will be heading to Haiti next month and working with the ministry called Mission of Hope. We are so excited about going to Haiti since our original plans fell through.
Life in the DR has been overwhelmingly beautiful; some days are harder than others, but no matter what is happening or how we are feeling, I know it is all for the glory of God. One thing that has taken on a whole new meaning for me this month is the concept of freedom.
Since I have been walking with the Lord, the concept of freedom has been troublesome for me to grasp. I often heard people refer to this “freedom in Christ” feeling as if it were this tall, refreshing glass of cold lemonade on a hot summers day— it was a promise they received that they knew would be kept.
Something I have wrestled with in the past was self-forgiveness and grace. I used to beat myself up for days about making a mistake or falling short of someone’s expectations for me. I knew that God forgives me and shows me his grace, but I didn’t believe it, which is the difference.
I didn’t believe in forgiveness and grace even though I was aware of these teachings and promises given to us from God.
Living in such a tight community this month has taught me what freedom really is.
Freedom is… not explaining or justifying yourself to others to try and explain yourself to them.
Freedom is… allowing yourself to fail, make mistakes, and mess up, but have grace for yourself because God does.
Freedom is… not worrying or stressing about if you are good enough in God’s eyes. Freedom is… not working for God’s grace, but just receiving it and living it.
One of the best quotes I have come by that describes this sense of freedom is in the book I am reading now called, “If” by Mark Batterson:
“We waste way too much worry on consequences we cannot control. Quit focusing on the outcome— the increase is God’s responsibility. Our job is planting and watering seeds of faith. And if we sow mustard seeds of faith, God will turn those what ifs into a thousand unexpected benefits.”
The Lord knows more than we do. My prayer for y’all and myself is this, “Lord, I want what you want more than I want what I want.”
I also wanted to share a poem I wrote with y’all about feeling freedom.
Where the wind takes me
“Fresh breath of air,
I feel you surround me.
The constant breeze
that has no start or end.
Where do you come from?
Where do you go?
Who am I to ask?
I feel you all the time—
yet don’t see you.
You still exist though,
even if I cannot comprehend.
I will trust and see—
where the wind takes me.”
Love y’all and god bless,
Julia
