Why The World Race?

Over the last month and a half, I have tried to sit down and write an answer to the question of ‘why?’ and it has been one of the most challenging assignments for me! I truly feel overwhelmed (in the best way) as I recount how God orchestrated the circumstances and conversations that have led me to a point of peace and confirmation of where God is leading me in this next season of life. If you were to ask my high school self, or even just ask me a few months ago what I thought my life would look like in the upcoming year, I would have never imagined what God has planned and revealed to me this far!

As I consider who I am and the circumstances and life experiences that have shaped me over the years, I often find myself wrestling with feeling unqualified to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ. I have struggled over the years with feeling as if I don’t measure up in my life to be able to boldly talk about the Savior of the world. To be honest, I am still surrendering this struggle over to God to this day. As the Scripture reminds me, I have to continually take my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. That means to completely submit them to the Lord and no longer allow them to control my life. You see, in 1 Corinthians 1: 26-29, Paul exposes who God calls: “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips those He calls. As I prepare for the World Race in 2022, I am continually reminding myself that my weaknesses and insecurities allow the light of Jesus to shine through; it turns out that my failures and shortcomings are exactly what God uses to showcase His redemption, grace, forgiveness, love, truth, and holiness (the list could go on and on of all His characteristics!). God uses imperfect humans to accomplish His will- and for that, I am humbled and in awe of my King.

The following is an account of a couple of circumstances that I believe God has used to bring me to this point in my life. I write these accounts only to give God praise. To give Him all the glory. No person in these testimonies would ever want any credit or attention, but that all praise and glory would go to the Father above who is so intentional about His pursuit after His children. 

Throughout my life, a couple of people have either spoken a word from God to me or encouraged me in pursuing missions (as God opens up doors). I wouldn’t say that I ever felt as though I was called to overseas missions, but sharing God with people in different lands brought me much excitement! I never thought it would ever come to fruition until just a couple of months ago. One of my sisters, Cheryl, came up from Georgia to visit the family. It was during that visit that God began to unravel so much in my heart about where He was shifting the direction of my feet in the upcoming season of life. Cheryl began to share with my family and me certain things that she believed God has spoken to her about our lives. Each person had a card, a song picked out for us, and a small gift. The message that was written on my card was about voicing my God-given aspirations and dreams to the Lord, without reservation, because God knows my heart and a desire for His will to be done. Just when I thought this night couldn’t get any more impactful, she began to pray over me and anoint my feet with oil (one of the most humbling experiences of my life). Part of the prayer was as follows:

“The Lord asked me to anoint your feet with oil because of the lands that you will go. You will go places we will never go, you will sit with people we will never sit with, you will eat things we never eat because of their culture, you will know pain in people’s hearts that we will never know. Because the Lord has anointed you.”

After this prayer, I had no idea what God would do with this. I wanted to lay it all at His feet and ask Him to give me wisdom and discernment. For all I knew, this could be something years and years down the road for me (and that is exactly what I thought).

To say that I was overwhelmed after this night is an understatement. I began to share with the Lord and talk with Him about all that had transpired. I then began to ask God about when in my life had He placed certain desires to do overseas missions in my heart. Almost immediately, God reminded me of a conversation that I had with my pastor almost two years prior. A conversation had sparked between him and me because he saw someone who he knew on social media who had gone on the World Race. He had told me that it wasn’t necessarily from God but that he just wanted to share with me what that person had been doing on the World Race and just that maybe I could get to know that person/ look into all of it. 

After that day, I followed the girl’s account and followed the World Race (not thinking it would ever affect my life’s trajectory). Well, as you may be able to tell, God had other plans! After God brought that to my mind that day, I searched the World Race and began to look into it. As soon as I had read into it, my heart just ignited- this is what I’ve been made for! I had so much peace, security, and confirmation in my heart! From my own conversations and prayers with God, in combination with confirmation from other godly men and women in my life, I knew this was where God was taking me. Even as I write this, my heart feels like it wants to leap out of my chest because I know this is what He is calling me to in this next season! 

Of course, as I counted the cost, I also had to consider leaving everything behind. My newer job, my routine, my engagements, and commitments, my family and friends. And as I would bring these things to the Lord over the days, He met me with such truth and comfort- reminding me of the cost the disciples had to make in choosing to follow Jesus. They left everything to follow Him. 

One thing that my prior pastor really emphasized is that we (as Christ-followers) are God-people everywhere we go. That means we don’t have to be in a different geographic place, be in the midst of the direst situations, or be on a missions trip to witness about Jesus. He is here; in the mundane as much as He is present in the more pronounced moments of life. In fact, we have been called to share the Good News of our Savior in every place we go (Acts 1:8), whether it is in our hometown or lands far away. Every single person has a unique purpose and a calling that God has created for us to walk in and fulfill. How awesome that our God is continually unraveling His grand plan to us in bits and pieces, conversations and experiences here and there, and that we have the JOY to walk this life in hopeful expectation of where God is going to lead us next! He is the most trustworthy Father and being in a relationship with Him is the best thing you can ever experience on this Earth. One day you and I will see how the puzzle pieces fit together, how our skills, calling, talents, and God-given personality were used to bring about His Kingdom here on Earth. God has given us hope for the journey and being in a relationship with Him not only changes us but also directly affects the people around us. 

I hope this testimony encourages you in your relationship with Jesus. I am constantly in awe of the God that I serve- He is so good!

In Christ,

Katherine