I'm sitting here on the couch in my croc flip flops, an ankle length skirt, a white tee, and a scarf… that's right– a World Race outfit.
My gear is piled up in the living room, ready to be magically arranged to fit in my backpack.
I can't stop scrolling through the #11n11 feed on Instagram and drooling over other racers' adventures.
Last night, I couldn't fall asleep because I was so excited about what my life will look like two months from now.
You could say I have World Race Fever. Maybe it's a side effect of the Japanese Encephalitis vaccination?
Or maybe it's because God has once again called me to pray for an hour each morning. Last time He did that, He used that time to call me to the race, so these morning chats are pretty special to me.
Let me back up a little and tell you how my life has been since I got back from Oklahoma…
My first week home was easy-peasy. I was riding a high from my wonderful week in OK and just happy with my life in general. As life got easier, I got slacker. It didn't take long for my quiet times to become pretty quick and surface level… and some days I didn't even have one at all. I was just coasting!
At the end of the week, my family headed to the beach for vacation. I decided to try out my World Race tent the first night, and when I woke up in the morning, I had my first quiet time in my home for the next year.
As I was praying and reading, I felt God speak gently to my heart and tell me, "Kaleigh, your life has been very smooth sailing lately and Satan is trying to use that to distract you from chasing after me. Don't slowly fade away because life is fun and easy right now."
It was a gentle conviction that caught my attention. I read through the Psalms with renewed fervor, praising God for opening my eyes to Satan's subtle tactics. I let the enemy know then and there that his back-door attack was not going to work on me! I was going to keep seeking the Lord and delighting in Him, and the enemy would not be allowed to use the blessings in my life to distract me from that any longer!
Well, ladies and gentlemen, Satan heard me. And then he decided to switch tactics.
Everything changed that day.
My mom and dad spent that entire day in the ER.
Dad was diagnosed with blood clots and the doctor was even a bit surprised he was still alive.
We tried to enjoy the second day on the beach but we ended up huddled under a tent hiding from the cold rain all afternoon.
Then, we decided to head home and cut vacation short.
Dad saw his own doctor and got more bad news, more diagnoses, more strict instructions, and more medical bills.
He learned he would have to take time off from work for a while.
Maggie accidentally consumed gluten at mom's birthday dinner which led us to cut that short as well.
The whole family was facing anxiety.
I became a victim of painful words and hurt feelings.
I learned my car was totaled and I would be going without one until I got back from the race.
Everything was falling apart.
Every day, it felt like a new storm was battering me and my family. Every phone call seemed to bring more bad news.
After a few days of this, I found myself once more skimming through or skipping over my morning quiet time. I felt burdened and anxious and weary.
But here's where the story gets good…
On Saturday, God whispered to my heart once more, "Kaleigh, Satan has switched tactics. A fun and easy life didn't distract you from Me, so now he's throwing challenge after challenge your way to see if that will work instead. Don't give up on pursuing Me. Instead, press in deeper than before. Tomorrow, I want you to go back to starting each day with an hour of prayer time spent with Me. Bring everything to Me."
Sunday morning came and I woke up early to pray for an hour. I poured out my heart to the Lord. I prayed for my family, for my world race preparation, for my squad mates (who are also facing more and more spiritual attacks as training camp draws nearer), for my walk with the Lord, and for anything else that burdened my heart and mind.
Then, I went to church… and had the best morning of worship I've had in ages. I stood beside my dad and mom, and we all worshipped with wild abandon. My heart was overflowing with joy! I felt so close to Jesus, the Love of my life, caught up in the glory of all that He is. It was transcendent.
What Satan meant for evil (distraction from pursuing the Lord), God used for good (an incredible morning of worship and a renewed commitment to seeking Him daily)!
As I worshipped, beautiful truths dawned upon my heart.
Satan tried distracting me from the Lord with a life of ease and comfort… and failed.
Satan also tried distracting me with all sorts of life storms: health, family, finances, relationships, and more… and failed again.
The rains came and the waters rose… and I was still standing on the Rock!
At that moment, I realized I am invincible.
No matter what Satan throws my way, He can do absolutely nothing to change the Truth that my hope and anchor is in Jesus Christ. He can not steal my joy or my faith. He cannot halt the intimacy I experience with my Father, the Most High God.
His power is limited and does not extend far enough to touch the core of who I am– my relationship with Jesus Christ.
For the first time, I know to the core of my being that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)
As I walk in this revelation, I am filled with joy and confidence! I am a daughter of the Most High King. He has invited me on the greatest adventure I could imagine– doing missions work in 11 countries over 11 months. He has called a squad of wonderful men and women to walk beside me and provide community. He has picked up the tab for this trip and provided without my help (only $1,210 to go!). He has a plan and a purpose for my life and Satan cannot thwart it! For the rest of eternity, I get to enjoy the presence of God and Satan can't do a single thing to stop it!
Most of my circumstances haven't yet changed. The storms are raging. But I am still standing on the Rock!
I'm standing here in my World Race clothes with my gear by my side, ready to take on the world (literally!). I am aware of Satan's attacks and laughing at his pitiful displays of "power." I am pressing into the Lord and reveling in the joy that nothing can take Him away from me. Now THIS is life abundant!
And this life is available to you, too! This confidence, this peace, this joy… it's all waiting for you. Is Satan trying to distract you with a life of ease and comfort, making you think you don't really need the Lord? Or is he trying to defeat you with storms in your life, health, family, finances, and relationships? His power may seem big, but when you turn your eyes on God, you'll find that He is much, much bigger. When you see that for yourself, you, too, can dance in the knowledge that you are Jesus's forever… and Satan can't do anything about it!
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39
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I still have to raise $1,210 to cover the cost of The World Race, so if God lays it on your heart to help send me out by supporting me financially, click "Support Me" on the left to make a tax-deductible donation online. Or, cut out the 3% online processing fee by writing a check to "Adventures in Missions" with "WARDKALEIGH" in the info line and mailing it to:
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
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If you feel led to help cover the cost of my personal expenses (supplies/gear, flight to launch city, immunizations), you can contact me personally for more information. I am paying for as much as I can out of own pocket, but I appreciate any donations for these costs as well!
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