For this month in Guatemala (month 10 of 11, by the way— insane), God really seems to be emphasizing some verses for me. I really love that the Lord often communicates to me by allowing my brain to recall verses, and that’s exactly what happened last week.
The verses Matthew 7:7-11 popped in my head, and they say:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
As I’m nearing the end of this amazing season on the World Race, my mind has obviously begun to wander into what all I need for when I get home and especially for when I begin my Master’s program in the fall.
God has already provided many good things, and for that I am grateful, but my checklist mind sometimes still dwells on the unchecked boxes.
I’ve worried about finding a place to live, a job, money for rent, and any other expenses I’ve graciously not had to worry about in these nine months. However, I know that God is gently reminding me—
“Beloved Daughter, haven’t you learned to trust me? Isn’t that what I’ve been whispering to your heart since one of your first and favorite memory verses as my child? ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding…’ You know to trust me in all things, and now’s the time to truly release it all to me during this transition.”
God also so often uses whatever I’m teaching children to teach me, too. I’m teaching these words of Proverbs 3:5-6 through a song to the hundreds of children we’re working with this month. When Jesus emphasizes a child-like faith, He’s not joking! The song my team and I are teaching is one I learned when I was about eight years old, and it’s still somehow stuck in my brain all these years.
I should know by now that I can trust the Lord will every single inch and crevice of my life. Not only does my Savior truly know what is best for me, but He also loves to give good gifts! He already knows what I need, but He invites us to ask and seek and knock anyway. What love is this, people? I’m blown away by it all again and again.
So, Jesus is calling me to lay it all down at His feet— the money I need, my future home, job, and my future in its entirety. And what’s beautiful is that I can lay down my present, too.
Lately, I’ve wondered about the impact I really have. Sometimes the enemy gets to me with doubts and fears of not having an impact. But, once again, the other day I stumbled upon some beautiful words that the Lord used to remind me of Who I serve and the simple acts of love I’m called to do. After that, I can trust that He will bring the fruit and the glory to His name.
These words are from Henri Nouwen, one of my favorite authors:
“Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.”
This is what I can give up to the Lord, too. This is what I hope to live on this very day alone. Sufficient for the days is its own trouble, and I know that my God has every day of my life written and every breath of my life covered. He is my daily bread, and I lay down my acts of love in His name for Him to use as He sees fit.
I pray that each and every one of you would be able to ask the Lord for anything. As we spend more time with Jesus, we become more and more like Him, and our desires align with what He wants for our lives. We don’t have to fear. He is not waiting for us to mess up. Rather, He is ready to give us good, tangible gifts— from wisdom for each day to money for rent. I’m choosing to trust in the God of the universe who loves me intimately and personally, and I hope you will, too. Praise the Lord forever and ever!
