The Beauty of Being Broken: How God Works Through Weakness

There’s something about walking mile after mile with tired legs and an aching back that opens your eyes to just how human you are.

Taylor, a World Racer on the Camino de Santiago, shares how this physical challenge taught her a deeper spiritual truth – God meets us in our weakness.

Each day on the Camino looks a little different: new scenery, new coffee, new community, new food. Yet one thing stays the same, the need to rely on God. Taylor’s mornings began in darkness, walking under the moon until the sun rose to warm her face. As her team hiked an average of 13 miles a day, their bodies would wear down. Feet ached, old injuries flared up, and muscles grew tired. Weary and worn out, they’d press on, often unsure of when the next rest stop would come.

One day stands out in her memory: a steep hill loomed ahead after miles of walking. Hungry, exhausted, and drained, her team pushed forward, motivated by the promise of reaching the top. And when they finally did, they found something unexpected: a place of rest, replenishment, and community. A simple stand offering fruit, pastries, juice, and seats to pause and recover.

That hill became more than just a physical obstacle. It became a picture of life with God.

We All Reach a Point of Empty

Scripture speaks to this reality often. To be tired is to need rest. To be weary is to feel worn down from the weight of it all. The Bible mentions weariness nearly 100 times, not to highlight weakness as failure, but to remind us: God is the one who sustains. He meets us where we’re tired. He fills where we feel empty.

Just as Taylor’s team found nourishment after their climb, we find our strength renewed in Jesus. John 4:14 says, “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.” Our Father invites us to come weary, thirsty, burdened and to leave refreshed.

Weakness Isn’t the End of the Story

The Race – whether it’s walking the Camino or serving in ministry across the globe – teaches this in real time. Physical weakness points to a deeper need for spiritual strength. Taylor reflected, “In our walk with God, often we may become tired and weary from our day-to-day experiences. We become tired and weary when we are not going to the Father to sustain us.”

The beauty of brokenness is this: God works through it. He doesn’t need our strength to do great things. He needs our surrender.

Your Weakness Is an Invitation for God to Move

Every hill you climb, every moment you feel like you have nothing left, is an invitation to experience the faithfulness of God in a new way. He leads us to water when we’re thirsty. He replenishes when we’re drained. He teaches us how to depend on Him, not ourselves.

The Race will stretch you physically, emotionally, and spiritually, but it will also show you the beauty of being broken before a God who delights in restoring.

Ready to Step Into the Challenge?

Our Semesters trips are built for those who want to serve others while learning to rely on God more fully. You’ll spend a Fall, Spring, or Summer semester working alongside our strategic ministry partners around the world – serving, learning, and growing in faith as God works through your weakness to make you strong.

Upcoming Semesters Trips | January 2026

South Africa | Semesters
Traveling to South Africa and Eswatini
Ages 18–30

Central America | Semesters
Traveling to Costa Rica and Colombia
Ages 17–30

Southeast Asia | Semesters
Traveling to Thailand and Vietnam
Ages 17–30

Let God meet you in your weakness and show you just how strong He is.
Explore Semesters Trips → worldrace.org