HALFWAY

Wow I’ve officially reached the halfway point on the race! It’s been 5 and 1/2 months since I’ve left home. 5 and 1/2 months since I’ve hugged my parents, laughed with my friends and cuddled my dog. To be completely honest these months have been hard. I’ve been homesick. I’ve missed birthdays, anniversaries, births and other milestones. I’ve lived without basic comforts and luxuries America has at its disposal. I’ve seen brokenness and poverty. I’ve felt the weight of abuse and neglect. I’ve met orphans and widows that have no one to care for them. I’ve questioned and demanded answers from God. I’ve wrestled with Him and have been gently reminded of His love and goodness daily. 

He’s revealed more to me in the last 5 and 1/2 months than He has my entire. He’s shown me who I am and what He calls me to be. 

 

To Love and Be Loved. 

 

This was something we were taught day 1 of the world race. We are created in the image of love and have been rescued from sin through the ultimate display of love – Jesus taking on sin and dying on the cross for us. If I’ve been given the best gift in the world why wouldn’t I want to share it with everyone? Why would I hoard up something that everyone should have the opportunity to partake in? This is the simple yet profound gospel of Jesus. And living out that truth has been the treasure of the last 5 and 1/2 months. Loving freely and recklessly expecting nothing in return. If there wasn’t a single person on this earth that loved me but I had all the love from my Heavenly Father that’d be enough. That’d be more than enough. I’ve found my worth and value in The Lord. Not what the world thinks of me. Not how family or friends view me. Not in the what if’s of my future. Not even the idea of a potential future husband. I’ve been surrendering these things to Him daily. There’s a freedom you can’t find anywhere else but through Him when you lay things down at His feet. I’m not saying it’s always easy. I still find myself clinging to some of these things but He’s always there.. patiently waiting for me to reopen my clinched fists to His eagerly open arms. 

That’s a small glimpse into a part of my heart these last 5 and 1/2 months. Woah God, can’t wait to see what the next 5 and 1/2 months holds!