Like any big decision, there will be pros and cons and this next step in my life is no different. I did not take this decision lightly and took time to pray about it. During that time reasons why I shouldn’t go flooded my mind. There are so many of them and they all hold pretty good weight. So below I have listed just a few of the reasons that came to mind why I shouldn’t go on the World Race.
1. I shouldn’t go because I’m leaving my family behind.
I’m giving up my lunch dates with my mom, my late night talks with my sister, and the movies with my brothers. I’m giving up bike riding with my dog Chewbacca. I’m giving up holidays that we’ve always spent together like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. I’m giving up celebrating their birthdays with them or being at my family’s annual skeet shoot competition labor day weekend. I’m giving up watching my puppy grow another year older.
2. I shouldn’t go because I’m giving up my church.
I’m giving up my role as worship leader in my young adults class and my place on the prayer team. I’m giving up ministering to the community through my church. I’m giving up growing through the powerful sermons and messages of the Elders and leaders at my church.
3. I shouldn’t go because I’m giving up my friends.
I’m giving up coffee dates with my girls, card game nights with some of my close friends, stairway talks with my roommate. I’m giving up being a part of one of my best friends wedding – one of the biggest days of her life. I’m giving up watching some of my friends graduate and experience life.
4. I shouldn’t go because I’m giving up my comfort.
I’m giving up daily hot showers, clean bathrooms, tap water that I can drink freely from. I’m giving up a roof over my head. AC in the Summer and heat in the Winter. I’m giving up solid food that I know won’t make me sick. I’m giving up washing and drying my clothes by just hitting a button. I’m giving up a comfortable 4 poster bed to sleep in every night.
5. I shouldn’t go because I may not be safe.
I’m giving up safety. I’m giving up the safety of locked doors and living in a place that I am familiar with. I’m giving up the safety in knowing that I can always drive home to my moms and that my family is only a couple hours away.
6. I shouldn’t go because I’m not qualified.
I’m not a Bible scholar. I didn’t get a degree in Seminary much less attend a Bible college. How could I be qualified to share the Gospel with these people in other countries? I can’t even speak their language! There’s no way i’m qualified.
I could go on and on with why I shouldn’t go, but they, like these, would just be excuses. In Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus calls the first disciples. He tells them “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and their family and followed Jesus. This is such a simple statement. They left their nets and their family. They left their nets which was their way of life. It was their job and security. They left their family’s. This doesn’t even give the hint that they even said goodbye or gathered their belongings. They simply followed Jesus. Following Jesus is not going to be easy, in fact we read in Scripture that it makes life much harder. Serving Christ is so much more than a command though, it is a blessing. One we don’t deserve. So among all my doubt and fear of the unknown, I will instead use Isaiah’s words: “Lord, Here I am! Send Me!” (Isaiah 6:8).
Till Next Time,
Kara
