We’re already six months into the race… where did the time go? We have one country left! God has taken me on this incredible journey, and it started way before the race. There’s certainly been hard times on this race. It’s hard to see the blessing and what we’re learning through the difficult times. It’s not what I would have expected at all, but in a way that’s perfect. I don’t want it to be the way I expect it to go. That doesn’t make things exciting… how would I learn anything?
I’m blessed to have experienced listening prayer and the mere beauty of the Lord. I see His beauty in a child’s smiling face or when I’m looking at His artwork that we call the sky. There’s ups and downs to everything in life, not just here. With that, no matter what gets thrown my way I don’t want to be home right now. I do miss it. Last month I kept having a dream I was out with my little brother, taking him to get frozen yogurt. I miss him, I miss his hugs. The time will come when I do need to go home but that time is not now. I’m meant to be here.
God’s been teaching me some really beautiful things. For so long, I hardened my heart for so many reasons, and I didn’t even realize it. I walked in a room and left my desire, my passions at the door. I wasn’t loving people how Jesus meant for me to. My words weren’t always giving life to people. But, He’s turned that around. He’s given me a new love for people. He’s given me joy in moments I never would have expected.
Something God has spoken over my team is to have humble boldness. We each have our own beliefs. It’s ours. It belongs to us. My faith doesn’t look like Megan’s, Bailey’s, or even my mom’s. My faith is my own! My own personal relationship with the Lord. So many of us have grown up in a church, and we have adapted to the faith people have around us, but we need to ask ourselves when does it become our own relationship with God? It’s okay if I view something different from my mom. If it wasn’t, then it wouldn’t really be our relationship with God.
I know from looking at my mom, she loves my sister and I so much. More than words can express, but she loves both of us in different and unique ways. We’re both different people that have a different relationships with our mom. I’ll spend time with her getting sushi, and my sister will stay in one day and watch a movie with her. Neither is better than the other. We all have different relationships whether it’s with friends, parents, or our Lord… and I’m content with that. I do not mind if I’m speaking to someone that has different views than me. Our relationship with God needs to be our own! We need to stand firm in it, even when we’re speaking with other believers. He’’s spoken different things into each of our lives.
I’ve experienced extremely different beliefs here in Africa, but that’s okay. I respect people that stand firm in what they believe. Our generation needs to stand firm in their faith, to stand strong even when there’s no one standing with you. So many people are afraid to speak from their hearts because they’re afraid to offend other people.
What if we started being radical?
What if we started saying the hard stuff to people?
I was so blessed to have a girl named Jenna on my team for four months. She’s a true friend that’s not afraid to speak difficult things into people’s life, and she’ll probably be one of the greatest friends I’ll ever have because of that. God’s calls us all to be like that. Not to be walking on glass, scared that something we say may offend someone. But being open to speak life into people, no matter how hard it is. That means being spirit driven, speaking things into people’s life that the Lord is telling you. He’s given each of us our gifts for a reason. Use them!! Don’t rob God and yourself of the amazing things he’s planning on doing through you if you simply say yes.
We can’t control people’s reactions. I’m not carrying around anyone’s pain anymore. I can’t do it anymore. It’s not always my fault. The Lord’s working in my life just as He’s working in everyone else’s, just in different ways. It’s okay if the people you speak to don’t want to be your friend anymore. If you were speaking the truth of Christ, then let it be!
God has given us all different gifts and talents. I pray that we all start being radical and standing strong in our faith, even when it’s looks impossible. God does impossible things. He kept Daniel alive in the Lions den, He gave David strength to beat Goliath, and He’ll give you whatever you need to get through any situation because He holds all the amazing gifts in His hands. They all come from Him. Speak life into people. You can do impossible things because you serve a God that does impossible things. Stop keeping Him in a box. Be faithful!
