What the World Race Taught Me About Joy: Finding Light in Unexpected Places

The world talks a lot about chasing happiness. It’s in every song, every ad, every scroll on your feed: “Do what makes you happy.” But happiness is fleeting. It fades when the Wi-Fi cuts out, when the plan changes, or when the comfort disappears.

On the World Race, Racers discover something deeper – joy. And here’s the thing about joy: it doesn’t depend on circumstances. It’s something God builds in you when everything else gets stripped away.

Joy Doesn’t Always Look Like You Expect

Before the Race, joy might look like mountaintop moments: worship nights that shake the sky, sunsets that take your breath away. And those moments do happen. But Racers quickly learn that joy shows up in quieter, often messier ways, too.

It’s in washing dishes with teammates after a long day of ministry. It’s in laughter shared with local kids who don’t speak your language. It’s in worshipping under tin roofs, barefoot, surrounded by people who remind you that God’s love crosses every border.

Joy isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s the still assurance that even here, even now, God is good.

When You Choose Joy, You Choose Trust

The Race isn’t easy. There are hard days – homesickness, exhaustion, long travel days, and spiritual battles that test your patience and your faith. But it’s often in those very moments that Racers experience the joy of dependence.

Because when comfort disappears, clarity comes. You start to see joy not as something you chase, but as something you choose. You realize it’s not about pretending life is easy, it’s about trusting that God is still worthy of praise when it’s not.

As one Racer put it, “I learned to praise God for the little things: clean water, laughter, and the way He showed up when I least expected it.”

The Joy of Living on Mission

Joy grows when your life shifts from getting to giving. The more you serve, the more you realize that pouring out your time, energy, and heart is exactly where joy overflows.

It’s the joy of praying with a new believer in Thailand. The joy of seeing a child in Eswatini run to meet you every morning. The joy of realizing that God doesn’t just use you, He changes you in the process.

The Race teaches Racers that joy is a rhythm of surrender and celebration, a way of living that says, “God, whatever You’re doing, I want to be part of it.”

Want to Experience Joy That Lasts?

The world offers happiness that fades. The World Race invites you into joy that endures – joy found in service, surrender, and seeing God move in the lives of others.

Take your next step. Discover joy in the unexpected.

Upcoming Semesters Trips | January 2026

• South Africa | Semesters | Ages 18–30
  Traveling to South Africa and Eswatini.
• Central America | Semesters | Ages 17–30
  Traveling to Costa Rica and Colombia.
• Southeast Asia | Semesters | Ages 17–30
  Traveling to Thailand and Vietnam.

Application Deadline: November 21, 2025
Start your World Race journey!