This last week has been one of the biggest blessings of my entire life! It started out rough, me coming down with an awful sickness that everyone around here seems to be getting, I thought it would be slow week where I got nothing done because I wouldnt be able to. Last Sunday through Tuesday, I pretty much slept non-stop, trying to recover, so I didn’t really get to do anything.
Wednesday though, God shook things up and reminded me once again that He does all that needs to be done! After coming out of my brief period of being a zombie, I got up and checked the mail Wednesday morning. God blew me away with letters from a couple people supporting me beyond what I deserve, but it was a huge blessing none the less! I came back inside, sat down to do some math and got a text from my dad that said his boss, who isnt a Christian, wanted to support me and wrote me a check! It was a HUGE surprise out of nowhere, and God really saying “even when you cant focus on the trip, I work in peoples lives!”
Thursday morning, I woke up after camping outside the night before, trying to get used to what its going to be like, and God spoke to me again that morning. Having just read the book Radical by David Platt, I came home to see a group of my squad mates are taking the radical challenge, and the Lord spoke and told me to join. So I did, and right away He told me to get rid of basically all your clothes. Dont sell them, just find people that need them, and give them to them. Im not trying to sound like I’m this great person, cause im not, but God has really been softening my heart to the need, so I went and packed up two HUGE garbage bags of clothes and gave them away, for HIS glory and for HIS love! I dont have many clothes left, but a strange sense of comfort and peace has been over me since then. Instead of always trying to figure out what to wear, I dont really have a choice anymore, so I can just get dressed and go. It is a hilarious problem, but like I said, God has given me peace, and I kept asking God why I have so much peace when I have a lot less? This doesnt make sense does it?
Saturday morning, woke up outside again, and Saturday was uneventful for the most part, but I still had the thought running through my head of the strange peace of having less stuff. That evening, I went to church where I was going to present my world race presentation to my Mosaic church family. I was nervous as I usually am before I get up to speak in front of people, so I sat down to read some Scriptures before I presented. Matthew 6 came to my mind. It says in verses 25-32:
25 “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you
will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t
life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or
reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you
worth more than they? 27
Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about
clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin
thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was adorned like one of these! 30 If that’s how God clothes the
grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow,
won’t He do much more for you-you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or
‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the idolaters eagerly
seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t
life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or
reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you
worth more than they? 27
Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about
clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin
thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was adorned like one of these! 30 If that’s how God clothes the
grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow,
won’t He do much more for you-you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or
‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the idolaters eagerly
seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
I got an answer to a question I had been asking for days when I was trying to prepare myself for a presentation! The Lord told me through this passage something that seemed to click like never before. He said, “Getting rid of the petty stuff in your life that causes anxiety will help you with the big things you are anxious about. Get rid of the little stuff, so you can focus on the big stuff! Clothes are not that important!” It was truly an awesome moment!
Sunday morning topped off the week. We came home late saturday night and slept outside in the pouring rain. As strange as it sounds, I slept wonderfully, despite my bag being wet and rain being blown in to my face for most of the night. For me, rain is peaceful, so to wake up sunday morning, I got up and sat on the porch with my friend Pete for 4 hours and just watched the rain, and thanked God for his awesome provisions! He whispered to me as I sat there, “I will show you true peace.” For this I am truly excited!
