The deadline approaches. Unprepared, you work through the night, frantically trying to complete the project, meet the deadline, or submit the assignment. You know about having faith, but still, it seems as if God is separate from your task at hand.
We have all been there.
I’ve been working on raising funds for this World Race for nearly 2 months now, and according to others, the work I’ve done should have resulted in more support than it has. Sharing my story, my testimony, reaching out to friends and relatives; All good steps, but yet, it is for naught. The temptation to freak out, resort to alternatives, and dive headlong into fundraising is very strong. It doesn’t make sense to me in my finite mind.
A few days ago, this passage from James came to mind: “If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally”, so I prayed asking for wisdom and discretion in this situation.
After praying for wisdom, it dawned on me……When has God NOT provided? I sat down and feverishly wrote out every major event in my life, the details that made it seem insurmountable at the time, and how God provided. Time and time again, miraculously, God came through. Always at the last minute, but still, He provided.
Pondering this Pattern of Providential Provision (Pardon my Perfect alliteration), my faith was boosted and I was able to step back from the “insurmountable” and ask:
What is God trying to teach me?
Concidentally (sarcasm), I am currently going through a study about how to be a Godly man, and the passage I just studied was about how fear or anger often determines men’s actions.
That hit me so hard. In any other aspect of life, I try to be this macho, manly man. I have life under control. I did this, I did that, I refuse help;
God is trying to make me reliant upon Him.
God’s greatest desire for us is a closer, more intimate walk with Him, but our “American Dream” is often not compatible with a risky, intimate walk with God.
Sometimes, a death of a relative creates grief that draws us closer to God, in my case, it’s a $20,000 price tag.
God is using this inability to meet the financial need to drive me into a closer, more intimate walk with Him.
God is showing me that I make decisions based on fear.
The temptation to give up, depend on others, or walk around with a rain cloud over my head is a constant struggle with me. I have high points where I’m gung-ho for Christ, but more often than not, I’m heavily laden with fear, a burden I refuse to give to God.
When looking back on all the miracles God has done in my life, I cannot see how my next step could be anything other than the World Race, I truly feel it is my calling.
Jesus said to go into all the nations and make disciples of all men. If my desire is to fulfill His orders, of course He will make it possible!
But, God is taking the control of the fundraising out of my hands, and telling me: “Oh you of little faith”.
Mathew 6:25-34 talks about what pure faith looks like, taking no thought for food or drink, or clothes, but simply seeking the Kingdom, and His righteousness. I’ve often wondered what life would look like if I TRULY lived PURELY by faith?
It looks like God is giving me a chance to see!
I’ve seen His great and wondrous works, I’ve read his commands of faith, I have an opportunity to see His provision……….
I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
