Life is full of fine lines between this and that; fine lines between foolishness and wisdom, and often times it is really challenging to know what side of that fine line you are on. Coming on the World Race presents you with yet another fine line in life, between foolishness and wisdom.
The Race costs a grand total of $15,500, which isn't really that much to travel the world for a year, but when you are trying to raise it all before you leave it seems like an impossible task. In the midst of trying to stay on the side of wisdom you have to decide if you are being called to go, before being fully funded, or if you are supposed to hang out at home until the money comes in.
While trying to decide which direction He is leading you in you will have plenty of "advice" from the outside world. Some will say "Go, your young and have nothing to hold you down. The money will come when you need it to." and others will say, "That is not smart, you need to wait until you are fully funded before you go so you can focus on your ministry." Both of these things are true, and both can be helpful; but truthfully they sometimes get in the way of hearing what God is telling you with regards to the subject.
Let me tell you a little bit about my experience. Up until launch I just barely met the deadlines, and the money ended up coming from places that I just didn't expect; but it always came. I knew that I was supposed to leave in January 2013 with O-Squad, but a few key people in my life would say things like, "Wait, you have time. You need to have your money." The truth is that I knew very well that I wasn't supposed to wait; and so I stood my ground, and I left in January even though I was just barely scraping by financially.
Since being on the race I have still found it quite the challenge to fundraise, but God has shown up time and time again. People have been so generous that it absolutely blows my mind, people that I don't even know!! Our last deadline was July 1st. By that date we were supposed to be fully funded, but I was not. In fact I was just given my final donation to reach $15,500 last Friday, that is a solid month and a half past the deadline. But God showed up again, and in a way that I would have never guessed. Our God is the God that fulfills His promises and provides for our needs, especially when our needs lead to opportunities for us to bring glory to His name!
So if you are considering the World Race but you find yourself getting hung up on the finances and deciding how to stay on the wisdom side of the fine line, I challenge you to stop listening to all the people around you and just hear Jesus! Figure out what He is telling you to do….and run with it, don't look back, and don't let anybody's opinions slow you down. You will find that your faith and trust in God will grow immensely and it will be totes worth it!!
