Risk Brings Suffering, Growth, and Glory

What a journey squad leading has been so far! I have to be honest that when I first signed up to squad lead for Gap year- World Race I knew that I would expect to face challenges through out the year. I’ve heard stories about squad leading of how they have had to face some wild challenging moments or suffering and it doesn’t always seem as glorious as it looks. I may have been hesitant to the thought of how God could possibly use me in leadership, but I knew the Lord was calling me and I could not ignore the call! One thing I have learned throughout my entire world race experience since 2019 was to risk my life for the sake of the Lord and His Kingdom. I’ve grown to understand that I cannot grow in my character if I stay where it is comfortable or safe. I’ve grown to recognize the value of my voice and finding confidence in my identity in the Lord. Only by renewing my mind and soul within God’s word each day is what changes me and my heart to look more like Christ and in following His will for my life. To be walking with Christ doesn’t always look safe and if it does look safe or comfortable than we need to be asking God “what does it look like for me to walk in your will today?”
There are people all around us every day that don’t know or even have a relationship with Jesus. How can they know the Word of God or grow in their relationship if we are not speaking His Word, if we are not loving, if we are not “going.”
With squad leading, I am learning a lot about the importance of discipleship and what it looks like. I’ve had to face so many hard conversations throughout this year. Checking in with each person weekly and seeing how they are doing and praying with them. I’ve learned to walk the journey with them and to be sensitive to Holy Spirit’s leading in EVERY conversation. There have been so many moments, over and over, where I’ve walked into conversations not knowing how to lead them or what to say and the Holy Spirit has somehow given me words to spit out in specific conversations. Praise God! I can only give God glory for giving me discernment and wisdom each day I face because I cannot do it in my human effort.
Some challenges that come have looked like that, as well as staying on top of communication within my co-leaders, my mentor, and hosts. In February, my other co-leader and I both got put in isolation for 5 days from Covid exposure and still some how managed to figure out how to lead our squad separated from them. Some days it looks like holding hair back when a stomach bug or parasite hit. I was one of those sickies last month and it was rough!
Some nights were spent at the hospital with the racers, being by their side, and chasing nurses down! Some days it has been hard to find an isolated space to cry alone. Each morning we have to do a health check in and some days it’s hard to tell the racers that they have to stay back from ministry or adventure days because they are sick.
Other responsibilities look like managing squad finances, running to the store and pharmacies for them due to our host keeping the squad from being exposed to the public as much as possible. There’s so much more but I wanted to share a little of my experience with you as you see the Lord strengthening me only for His glory.
This season that the Lord placed me in has shown me of the growth I’ve experienced if it weren’t for taking that risk! I’ve seen God show up and lead me in many occasions and I’ve experienced his supernatural sustaining strength. Only God! I’m grateful for this opportunity and learning to love even in the toughest and hardest moments I have had to face. Though I’ll be returning home in June, this journey does not end. I believe the Lord has more for me and when suffering appears my heart will still have hope because Jesus is my Lord and there’s much to be done before He returns!
-Where is God calling you to walk out of comfortability today? Will you recognize that He is your hope, your future, life, love, and guidance? Will you go?
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15 NLT)

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”(Proverbs 13:12 NLT)

“so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28 NLT)