Key for the Journey

When we launched for the World Race, our squad was given the opportunity to purchase a “key for the journey.” Keys for the journey is a ministry started by a former Racer. This individual sells hand-pressed keys and partners with missionaries to assist them in raising funds for their kingdom work. The keys contain a word, either chosen by you, or prophetic style – where Austin, the founder of the ministry, prays for a word from the Lord for you to press into in your current season.

 

Prior to launch, I received a prophetic key from Austin and my key contained the word “BRAVE.” For the last four months I’ve been praying and asking the Lord what this word is to teach me as I just stepped wildly outside of my comfort zone to travel the world doing missions for almost an entire year.

 

Meanwhile, during our time in Guatemala, I met a man named Luis. You may remember him from my previous blog, where the Lord graciously provided a toilet for him and his family. As I learned more and more about Luis in conversation from our ministry host, Juan, I felt the Lord telling me to give this man my key. 

 

Being a friend of our host’s cousin, Wallow, the other worker at the ministry, our host didn’t know all to much about Luis. But the little that he did share with me was remarkable. He shared how Luis was the oldest of his four siblings, how his mom was not present in the home, and how his dad had been struggling with alcoholism, with no signs of trying to quit. With that, Luis naturally carried a large amount of responsibility to provide for his family and take care of his younger siblings. Oh, did I mention he’s only 19 years old?!

 

I know what you’re thinking. Brave is a perfect description of characteristics Luis has been forced to embody, whether he wanted or deserved them at all. 

 

Or so I thought.

 

On one of our last days with New Generation, we had the opportunity to visit Luis’ home and family and take them some groceries and other household essentials. Much to my surprise, we entered their property and were greeted very kindly by his mother. Within minutes of talking with Luis and his family, I quickly realized everything about Luis and his situation was a bit different than I had previously thought I’d known.

 

Luis’ mother was in fact very present in the household and claimed to be a devout Christian, telling us her and her oldest and youngest sons went to church regularly, but not dad or the two middle sons. Not only that, but Luis wasn’t the oldest of his siblings, he was actually the second youngest.

 

Left dazed and confused by all this new information, I sat in wonder of what I was to do and say in regards to my key. I was confident the Lord had told me to give him my key, but every reason I thought it for was now out the window. 

 

Rather than questioning, I chose obedience.

 

Though the reason was unbeknownst to me, I trusted the Lord would use this key and this word to speak to this sweet man. Instead of scrambling to try to relate the word to what I thought his situation was, I instead shared what the Lord had taught me through the word “BRAVE.”

 

Over the last four months, the Lord has been teaching and showing me that being brave has absolutely nothing to do with being flashy, showing off courage, or trying to be first and best. In being brave, the Lord is calling me to be willing to do whatever it takes, to serve in any capacity, no matter the circumstance. To have a heart that says, “I will do your will no matter what it is.”

 

Truthfully, I still can’t say I’ve received clarity as to why I felt the Lord telling to give this man my key. But that’s okay. I know He will use it to impact Luis’ life in some way, shape, or form.

 

Would you join me in praying for the Lord to reveal himself to Luis and the rest of his family in ways they’ve never known before? Would you also pray for me as I continue to do my best in living out this new definition of brave the Lord has given me?

 

Thank you so much for your continued support throughout this incredible journey with the Lord.