January 2011. It was time for something to happen. But what? And when? Should I apply for the World Race first? Should I ask for a leave of absence? It wasn’t feeling right yet for me to do either, but, maybe I was just scared and procrastinating. I was hoping that God would give me some sort of sign. (Once, an actual sign went up on my route to work that confirmed something God was already speaking to my heart. I was kind of hoping for an “Apply Now!” billboard.) It was only the beginning of the month, so, I figured that I’d wait a little bit longer to see what would unfold.
Here’s something that I’m learning: when we ask God for direction and find ourselves waiting, we can trust that we won’t be disappointed. The waiting is always worth it. This time was no exception. (Somebody mark these words, because I’m pretty sure that I’m going to need to be reminded of them sometime in the next 18 months…)
I was praying with all the musicians before a night of worship at a local house of prayer. When it was time to start, I was still being prayed for by an older man who I recognized but had never spoken to before then. He finished praying, but stopped me from walking out of the room. He looked me straight in the eyes, and spoke in a tone that was both stern and sweet:
“In Jeremiah Chapter 18, God tells Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house because he has words that he will only speak to him there. God has words that he wants to speak to you, but you have to go. Go, and don’t wait. Don’t wait even a year, you have to go now if you want to hear the words God is waiting to say to you.”
Okay, that word definitely had to do with the World Race, right?!? I quickly flipped through the catalogue in my mind of other potential life situations that those words could possibly apply to. Vacation plans? Nope. Thoughts of moving? Eh, not really. Bathroom break? Nope. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist. You might as well get used to my sense of humor.) This was definitely related to the World Race.
I was rocked. I applied for the race immediately. (And, in timing that could only be God’s, we had giant snowstorm the following week, allowing me to do my phone interview for the race on a snow day off from work.) Once I learned that I was accepted, I asked for a leave of absence a few hours later, and it was approved shortly after that. And now, after all the waiting, I’m finally blogging here!
So, that’s the story. I’m crazy excited to hear what God wants to tell me on the race, and I’m looking forward to sharing it here. Below is a video of a song with lyrics that apply to how I’ve been feeling. I don’t want to regret missing God’s words and God’s plans because I’ve been too scared to follow him. I know that going on the race is from God, and, I’m thankful to know that at least this time, I don’t have to hope for a “next time” to make the right choice.
I think you’ll enjoy listening to the whole song and all the lyrics, but, I’ll post the chorus here:
If I don’t go when you say go,
If I don’t speak when you say so,
We might find that we’ve run out of ways
To see the world around us changed.
If I don’t move when you say “move”
Because I don’t trust what you’ve told me to do,
It might never come around again,
Next time, I’ll do it your way.
