I'm not sure why God laid this matter on my heart, but here goes nothing.
it's time to rebuke the spirit of comparison
Put a bunch of Christians together, mix it around, and you have a bunch of stumbling mumbling bumbling silliness going on. Division. It's brewing. I'd like to address it now, before launch.
Wherever you are with the Lord is different from where Sister Sue and Brother Bob are.
Some of us had the blessing of growing up in a Christian home, and some of us grew up with screaming fights, abuse, or abandoned.
Some of us experienced the Holy Spirit in different ways, while some of us got to see it for the first time in training camp.
Some of us have gifts, or different gifts, while some of us don't even know what ours are.
Some of us are ahead, some of us are behind.
Some of us are Bible-thumping little encyclopedias, while some of us are like "ummm I can do all things through Christ? Something like that, it's in there."
"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." 1 Cor 12:14-18
Just as you are. Wherever in the walk you are. A little on the confused side, even.
We are called to minister together as one body. United. Loving, appreciating, encouraging each other.
Some of us have already identified ourselves with the uncool parts of the body.
You may be the muffintop. Embrace that role. You are necessary.
"The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable" 1 Cor 12:21-22
We (the body) cannot function without you, awkward toe! Or you, double chin!
I'm making jokes but I'm dead serious. I had to learn this lesson the hard way when God put me in a church where I was definitely the pinky.
I was so overwhelmed with anxiety (everybody is married, with cute babies) because my life was different. I almost missed out on the blessing of being a pinky in the body.
In a blubbering cryfest, I sat with one of my mentors, who was the leader of the summer Bible studies. I said "Lauren, you are the whole arm, and I'm just a pinky!!!" And after much flailing and snot, I finally understood. I wasn't meant to be the same. I can't describe the freedom and the love I felt when I allowed myself to function without comparing myself to the Godly mommies and wifeys in the room with me. God blessed me SO much by putting me around those women, and look at how my church has supported and blessed me.
He's going to do the same in our teams, in our squads, in our lives.
Trust the Father. He knows what He's doing. He's putting us in a situation where we can sharpen each other. Learn from each other. Help each other.
We are going to learn about the mysteries of the Holy Spirit together.
It's not like Sam's Club, or some kind of underground society. We all have access to the Holy Spirit. We all will learn, with patience, more about it. A lot of us were never exposed to it before, and felt daunted by the gifts of the Spirit at camp. Please keep your heart and mind open, and keep praying for the Spirit to reveal Itself to you. Talk to somebody who has more experience.
But… don't compare. You go down that road, buddy, you're gonna regret it.
We are not supposed to judge each other, you who are strong in your walk. Be gracious with the baby Christians. They love Jesus with every ragged breath, and every mouthful of dirt, and every scar and scrape. They are learning, and they are indispensable. Invest in them. Pour into them right now, or they may not even make it to launch. We've had an E-Squad sister dream that many of us will not be at launch. Let it not be because we divided ourselves. Reach out now and make sure we don't lose any limbs. Do it soon. Like now.
We are not supposed to envy each other, you who look up to the stronger ones or the ones who have what you desire, and feel inadequate. You are part of the body. You do belong. I promise. Paul said so, because God says so. The body needs you, and every second you pull away is a small victory for the evil one. You don't have it all together. It's in Daddy's hands. Trust Him, He's doing amazing work in you, for HIS glory. We need you to get in the airplane. And do not isolate yourself. Find someone who you love, somebody who inspires you, to open up to. You need accountability, to confess your insecurities and have them rebuke them and speak life to you. And brother/sister, do it quick. Do it soon. Like now. Don't wait to start.
I rebuke the envy.
I rebuke the judgment.
I rebuke division in my World Race family.
I rebuke the spirit of comparison among my World Race family.
I declare that we are united, as one body, in our calling.
I declare that we will accept each other in humility.
I declare that we will have life spoken over us, and we will no longer be chained to insecurity.
I declare that we will get to launch as one body, and nobody will be left behind because of division or doubts, much less provision.
hey there! Way to step out in boldness! Thank you!
Awesome girl…thank you so, so much for sharing what our Father told you to share with your brothers and sisters. You are exactly right…we can NOT let the enemy get us down by telling us that “E Squad doesn’t really need you…no one will ever notice or care if you aren’t there.” I firmly believe that satan and his armies are scrambling around right now trying to discourage us, all of us, into not going by any means possible….fear of the unknown, of not being able to fundraise, of illness, of quitting our jobs, of not feeling accepted, etc.
I love you Helena and am so grateful God put you on our squad! Please continue to hear His voice and encourage us the way you have been! Love and prayers for you sister!
Dude. Helena, did you see my last post?? Totally goes along with this. I wrote it Sunday after feeling like God was calling me out on this, and that I needed to get over it AND to help my teammates with it as well. How cool is that. Love you my sister! Keep listening to God’s voice!
Dang girl!!! What an incredibly awesome blog. You definitely have a voice and this isn’t the first time God will use you like this. Keep walking strong and putting all of your worth and confidence in the Father.
Wonderful Helena! I have been concerned about the same thing, losing teammates, that is NOT okay, in anyway. We are all family now, and would feel the loss of any body part very deeply. So anyone having second thoughts, we will hunt you down!!!
We need more of this life truth spoken!
With love,
The Awkward Toe
Well said.
dang this is legit…
God has given you (and the girl who had the dream) some crazy awesome discernment and spiritual insight…
o my word girl this is SO BLOW OUT!!!!! i mean wow!!! THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT!!!! GOD did an amaziNG jod putting those words together for you!! glory be to the one who sits on the throne. 🙂 (thanks for blessing me Helena)
Awesome stuff here Helena. Preach it sister!
Thank you so much for the encouragement, everyone! God really did put this on my heart and I felt an urgency to write it. Definitely the Holy Spirit. Yall are awesome and so kind. Love yall so much!
Go Helena!!
Thank you for calling this out and sharing your heart.
Being self-aware of comparison is SO important. It’s human nature, we are conditioned that way. And as racers we have to be conscious of it and ahead of it.
After month one we will all gather to move to our next country and what will we do? we will share stories… and what will be the tendency? to think our team didn’t do that or this… or that ministry contact was (do i say it…) “better”.
Please everyone…. be prepared. Follow Helena’s heart!!! We are all parts of the body and each of our path’s was predestined.
Go E-Squad!!!!!