Twenty days from now, life as I know it will be turned upside down. The ‘rights’ I believe to be mine will cease to exist. I’d be lying if I said I was completely ready to have my world rocked.
I’ve never known what it means to be truly in need. For 22 years I’ve met every morning with infinite amounts of opportunity and ended each night with the warmth and security of a roof over my head.
Here I am, twenty days away from meeting a world of people in deep need.
Since being accepted to the Race I’ve been going full speed preparing, fundraising, telling, visiting, writing, shopping, thanking. As August 11th creeps closer reality starts to sink in. Soon this will cease to be a bulleted to-do list of gear to purchase, or things to settle before leaving. As I cross something off my list and realize the few things left to do, I’m greeted with a dose of reality.
I’m really doing this.
Words fail me to describe the accurate emotion. Or maybe my emotions cease to understand. For I’ve never known a life other than life in America.
Satan is tricky, he knows exactly how to creep in and make me fearful of what’s ahead. I find myself lying awake at night running ‘what if’ scenarios through my head. Those pictures tell me I can’t do this. He loves using the little luxuries I enjoy in life and making them seem like a huge deal to give up.
This is only a taste of what’s to come, but I daily have to lay those doubts down at the feet of Jesus. Some days, it’s been easy. Other days, not so much. He has offered reassurance; I can in fact do this, with His strength, not my own. What’s difficult is those little luxuries Satan uses to try to stop me, are what have for so long have defined me. Oddly enough, it’s one of the reasons I signed up for the Race. I prayed they be stripped away, I’ve mentioned before knowing I’ll come back from this experience a different woman. This process will be harder than I’d imagined.
I realize I can’t rely on this Race to change me. It will in many ways, but that’s not to say I can glide through the next 11 months and be transformed. I began this journey long before I’d heard of the World Race and will continue it, God willing, years after it.
That said, I’m asking you for something. It always seems too simple and I feel its become a Christian way of making people feel better, telling someone “I’m praying for you” as a way to encourage. It’s a phrase I all too often throw around.
Yet, it is that simple. Whether an unadorned request while running errands in the car. Or a heated appeal on your knees.
Specifically for fear and doubt to be castaway and for the strength to do this Race.
In the same respect, I’ll pray wholeheartedly for each of you. Give me specifics. I’m serious. This year I know I’ll face times where I long for home and it will bring a smile to my face to hear from you, whether we’re best friends or complete strangers. You can click
Contact and I’ll get the message. Send me prayer requests no matter how big or small and I’ll spend some time praying for you.
Habakkuk 1:5 – Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.
