The First Post- Starting the Journey

Isaiah 64: 8- “But now, O LORD, you are the Father; we are the clay, and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand”. 

              This is where it starts. Every journey has a beginning… and many times, a humble beginning. An idea- a vision- that is prayed about, looked at, and sometimes acted on. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to walk through the door that the Lord propped open and commit to the World Race. As I type this post during the Thanksgiving week (where I am announcing the race to relatives and starting the journey of support raising), a flurry of thoughts and emotions rushed through me. Some of it is excitement- going into a new stage in life and sharing the Gospel with people from across the world. But some of it is wondering- how did I even get to this point… and what does God plan to do with this? But as I continued to think about why this journey even began for me and where it will go, the Lord pointed back to a pattern that has influenced my life and many others- God using brokenness to restore and grow His kingdom.

              I remember the day vividly. It was August 2017, and my sophomore year was just about to begin in college. This was a challenging time; I pushed to the limit as friendships that I had known and cherished ended abruptly. But it is during trials that critical and far-reaching decisions are often made.  And so, I hiked up the southeastern flank of Linville Gorge and summited the mountain- expecting to spend a few hours in solitude praying to God and hoping that there could be some reason why things would turn out the way they did. But ultimately, the Lord had other plans this day. As I sat on a rock overlooking the Gorge, a group of guys showed up as the clouds began to darken. Soon, we were under an intense storm as the men scrambled to build a tarp, and we all hunkered down. Rain blew sideways, upways, and downwards and the winds lashed the tarp. Trees were thrashed around us as the fury of a microburst descended on the Gorge. But eventually, the rain let up. We emerged from the tarp to discover one of the most amazing views ever seen when the fog lifted from Linville Gorge. God taught that even though we will undergo storms and intense suffering in life, we do not have to do it alone. Like those guys who built the makeshift storm shelter, we can rely on God and His community as He grows us through challenging times (and even when things don’t make sense).  New friendships were built that day, and the Lord began to change my path in mighty ways. New brothers in Christ appeared in my life shortly after the incident, and dormant seeds for mission opportunities began to sprout… which ultimately led me to the World Race today.

              God is so powerful- and He restores us in the midst of brokenness. But in order for me to grow, I need to be like the clay (Isaish 64:8); which can be molded and shaped into a Kingdom role. As I enter the Race and begin to raise support, the above story resonated because there will be brokenness and challenges on this race. We (the team) will be pushed physically, see injustice front and center, and cry out as God pushes us to have no fear and be bold in reaching the Unreached. Yet it also will be a time of empowerment as light is shown in dark places, Kingdom movements are launched / sustained, and people are mobilized for the Great Commission. The Race beckons because I am called to push past my fears as never before and yet raised up to make an impact for the Kingdom where the Lord directs. As a follower of Christ who seeks to grow in the Lord, I need to be broken from my own desires and instead continue to set my eyes on God. This path is not easy. Just like that day on the mountain, I will be pushed to my limit- and through God’s guidance even beyond that. Yet we will be sharing the Gospel as God brings His kingdom to far-flung regions of the world. I can’t wait to see the joy of the children, the days of divine comfort and healing delivered to those who desperately seek answers to their lives, and churches (both in the US and abroad) raised up to proclaim the Good News. This- the changing of people’s lives in Jesus’ name- is what will make the World Race (Expedition) truly epic. It is through the presence of God and His word that these things will be accomplished…

Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Edge of Gap Campsite View, Shortoff Mountain Summit.

Mountains-To-Sea Trail, Linville Gorge- August 2017.