Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

I love to travel. Whether it is a quick day trip to some obscure Kansas town, a hike in the wilderness, or a red eye flight across the Atlantic, traveling is just my favorite! I have been blessed with the opportunities to see many different states and a few countries outside of the US, but I just cannot get enough! My list of places to see grows daily, and I dream of the next adventures I will have. My wandering heart loves my Kansas home, but I want to see as much of the world as I possibly can.

And the thing I love most about this? That you and I were made to be wanderers. Think about it. This earth is not truly our home, it is just a temporary stay in the line of eternity. My life on this small corner of the universe will end one day, and I will be spending the rest of eternity in my true home at the feet of Jesus.

We are all nomads just passing through, a great big tribe of gypsies biding our time in a place that we will never truly belong.

In that line of thinking, it is almost impossible to deny that we were made for one adventure after another. We were made to explore and delight, standing in wonder of all God has made. We were NOT made to sit back in fear, too afraid to get out of our comfort zones. One of the first verses I memorized as a child was 2 Timothy 1:7, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind." Even hiding this verse in my heart at a young age, I have struggled with fear and timidity a lot in my life. Sometimes it takes some convincing to get me to try something new, but once I do, I am so thankful that I did. Over the years, I have learned that I can trust God to care for me, and I can live fearlessly as I adventure through life. I have learned that some of my best memories were made during the times I was afraid and uncomfortable: kayaking in the Atlantic, hiking a mountain, ziplining upside down over the woods, riding Tower of Terror, etc. If I had let fear take over my life, I would have missed out on so many amazing experiences.

God's Word promises us that the Lord is with us wherever we go. In the same verse, He commands us to not be afraid, but to be strong and courageous. Now, I know that things here at home take a lot of courage too, and I am not promoting anything that is just unsafe or. . . stupid, for lack of a better term. Do not say, "Melissa said to be adventurous so I am going to cliff dive into two feet of water! YES!"

Please don't.

BUT what I am saying is do not be afraid to try new things. Even everyday adventures can add so much to your life. Order something new off of the menu, take a different route to work or school, visit a community theatre, volunteer your time at a local nonprofit. . . the list goes on. There are so many things to do and see in your world, why not try some of them out? And of course, travel as much as you physically and financially can. Experiencing historical places, cultures, and natural wonders first hand is so much better than reading about them or looking at photos online.

We were made to be adventurers. Wandering nomads sharing the love of Jesus as we learn about and explore the places around us. Won't you join my fun and be an explorer with me? Let's throw fear and caution to the wind and take delight in the world around us. God wants us to enjoy our lives here (even if they are temporary) and He commands that we be brave, knowing that He is with us always.

Do not be afraid. Be strong and courageous, and get out there and experience the world around you.