Back
in December of 2009, I had the privilege of being in Israel during
the Christmas season doing ministry on the World Race. My team’s
ministry for the month was to serve a single mother of five children,
ages ranging from two to thirteen years. On top of schooling all the
kids at home, one of her middle children had a degenerative disease
that left the child mostly immobilized and somewhat mentally
handicapped. This, as you can imagine, was full time work for her,
and she was not able to work a job.
With five mouths to feed,
one requiring extensive medical care, and no regular income, if
anyone had the right to feel the need to be pitied, she did. But she
was the kind of person who would never let that thought cross her
mind. “I am immensely blessed” she would say to us
regularly. “I have all that I need. The Lord provides it.”
She told us how she didn’t have to be worried about money because the
Lord always gave it. She had had people she did not even know knock
on her door randomly and say they felt they were supposed to help her
by giving her money.
That, believe it or not, wasn’t even the
incredible thing about her testimony. It was her attitude about
giving. In a financial situation such as hers, most would be tempted
to think they must save every cent they have, and they would not be a
fool to do it. But that was not her attitude. “Freely you have
received, now freely give,” Christ told his followers. And that
is exactly what she did. She paid for our entire group (40+ people)
to have Christmas dinner there because we were away from home and on
a small budget as well. She would not even hear a protest in the
matter. “I cannot be blessed if I don’t bless” was her
attitude! “The Lord knows what I need each day.”
This
encounter has had a profound effect on me. I, as you know, am a
missionary living on the funds provided by people (including many of
you) who believe in the vision and work I am doing. The Lord has been
teaching me to rely on Him for my daily bread. Key word: “Daily.”
In our culture, I think we become accustomed to covering our bases
and trying to be sure we have
enough for the days, weeks, months, and
even years ahead. This is not a bad practice at all, desirable when
possible. But circumstances can bring a challenge to our faith in the
Lord if we allow them to. For the time being, He has taken this
comfort and security away from me, much like He did in the Old
Testament when providing manna for the Israelites, so that I can
trust Him for my daily bread. And He is faithful.
My support
account has been hitting zero every two weeks as our pay periods hit,
but so far, every time it comes time for the next check to come out,
the money has shown up from somewhere to keep me on and able to pay
my bills. Like the manna in the wilderness, it is there each day.
This has been a challenge in my faith that I am, believe it or not,
glad to be having. When we are in a real need and there is no answer
for it in our own power, it can drive us to the Lord. He honors our
urgently seeking Him, with more than just tangible means. I have felt
a huge difference in the depth of my relationship with Him over the
last week or so through my increased time seeking Him. That is worth
more to me than anything in the world.
I hope that the Lord
does not always have to get me desperate in order for me to seek Him
more deeply, but I rejoice in the fact that in desperate places in
our lives, He is an ever present help and always ready to draw closer
to us. I am thankful that all I have to worry about when it comes to
means is putting in the labor and then asking him for today’s bread.
