We constantly wait for moments or experiences to propel us into something greater, somewhere more beautiful, a place where we can feel like we finally made it. But moments can pass us by and experiences can become nothing more than solitary events that have no lasting impact.
So how did the World Race actually change my life? It wasn’t solely a collection of memories – although I do have countless of those, and beautiful ones. It was a turning point for me, because I allowed it to actively change me from the inside. Almost one year after having finished my race, I’m still seeing how it refined me, and as more time passes, it becomes vastly clearer that it was not meant to be the only shining chapter in recent years, but that it was simply part of the preparation for everything that is still to come in the future.
So for those reading and considering the World Race, I am a firm believer that anyone and everyone should do it regardless. But what I don’t want is for people to go with false expectations of what it is. Expect big things to happen, of course, because they will. But understand that it will oftentimes not be at all what you imagined, and that is when God moves the most and that is when the growth that we all talk about comes.
Let me go back to something I just mentioned. The World Race will not, and should not, be the apex of your spiritual journey. God will not bring you this far to only bring you this far. Be encouraged when you feel like you haven’t conquered all your demons in one year. You probably won’t. You are not meant to. Don’t be so hard on yourself when you are confronted with your own pride and selfishness that maybe has never manifested itself so thoroughly. You are being thrown into extreme circumstances, and it will bring out both the best and worst in you. I don’t care how mature you think you are, you will be humbled and brought low. You may be a really loving person by nature, but your love will many times reach it’s limits. I don’t say these things to be a total downer or angsty realist. I say these things that you would understand that this Race is hard work, but that that would motivate you, not discourage you. One of the things that I am trying to apply to my life so much more now, because of the Race, is the following: If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. I can’t take credit, I’m pretty sure I found that on Instagram, but you get my point.
You will have new dreams sprout within you, amazing ones, but it is possible that it simply may not be the time for them to come to pass right after the Race. Be willing to go home or wherever you end of after and serve faithfully in what God has provided until He tells you to move again. This is easy to say, but hard to live out. It has been the hardest thing for me thus far. This means surrendering everything. Who do you know that likes surrender? No one. But trust me when I say that trying to force things when it is not God’s time is actually far more painful than just telling Him that you are willing to do it His way, and believing that it will be far better than your way anyhow.
I actually plead with you to watch a sermon from Christine Caine. She unpacks the concept that there is a gap between your anointing and your appointing known as “the dark room.” Film develops in a dark room, and in a similar fashion, God puts us through the dark room to break us down and work on us so that He can use us. The World Race may be part of that, or it may be what comes right before. For me, I had a lot of my anointing come during the Race. I was prophesied over and spoken into in powerful ways and I just wanted to carry out all these visions the second I came home and immediately leave to live out this life that I knew God had for me. But the truth is, this year following the Race has been far from what I imagined. But I have taken heart, even in the darkest moments, knowing God just has more work to do in me. I still have to work on my pride and my insecurities and all those things that I carried back with me. I cannot do her sermon justice, so I actually beg of you that you take 45 minutes to be encouraged by her words.
But most importantly, the World Race changed my life most in teaching me to love.
There were times I didn’t want to love because I didn’t feel like it. So this taught me that love is not just a feeling, it’s action, it’s choosing to love because God loved us first. There were times that loving was hard because it hurt so bad. It hurt to invest and have to leave. But there I came face to face with the reality of pure, unconditional love and what that does to break our heart for the broken things of this world. We are called to love, and if you embrace the challenge that comes with choosing to love the way God loves us, I promise you, you will never, ever be the same.
So the World Race was this unbelievably beautiful chapter in my life, no doubt about it. This post cannot begin to contain all the wonderful snapshots I hold within me of that year. But there is far more to come, so much more. If you are reading this and your spirit is being stirred to go on this adventure, don’t wait one second longer. Go. If you’re like me, and you’re an alum, let’s not forget that the Race was only the beginning of the adventure. And no matter who you are or where you are, may we live out this beautiful passage of God’s Word:
He has told you, O man, what is good;? and what does the Lord require of you?but to do justice, and to love kindness,? and to walk humbly with your God? ?
Micah 6:8
