In merely 6 months from this very day I should be getting on a plane to begin an adventure of a life time. In 6 months I will leave everything behind. I will leave behind the baby twin boys that were just born. I will leave behind my three year olds that are running and talking. I will leave behind my high school students that are on the brink of their life taking off or continuing the cycle of brokenness and poverty. I will leave behind a vibrant ministry that is taking off and making waves for the Kingdom of God. I will leave behind my house and amazing roommates. I will leave behind 6 years of life and love in this city. and I will leave behind all that is familiar to me to seek the will of God amongst the nations. I am ready to leave this behind because I am ready to follow His call. Today I was looking at my fundraising charts and looking up potential donors and praying over my finances and I was overwhelmed with stress and hopelessness. I had to take a moment aside and realize that this is all in God’s hands, that no matter how much campaigning and speaking, and sharing, and fundraisers, and shirts, and stickers, and yard sales, and bakes sales I do JESUS will be the one to provide. Jesus has a plan and it is just my responsibility to live for Him and love Him.
Even though Jesus is in charge I still struggle with worry and anxiety over school and ministry and fundraising, because I am still human. When I worry I remember that Jesus already died for me and for my worry, and when I worry it is like me saying “Oh by the way Jesus your death wasn’t big enough for my struggles… past present and future”
When I was a youngster in undergrad I had a mentor that instilled in me the importance of memorizing scripture. One of the scriptures she asked me to memorize was this: Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Even the gentiles needed things and Jesus here was talking about “all these things” as even things the gentiles needed. And Jesus will even give us the things of every day needs when we seek Him first. Today my every day need is to get my homework done, get rid of this terrible cold and to fundraise.
Would you help me in this mission by donating to the work of Jesus throughout the nations? Would you pray with me and for me as I seek to serve Jesus in the here and now and work to fundraise to serve Jesus in the nations where I leave in 6 months? Would you pray that Jesus miraculously provides the finances I need to be able to leave in August full funded?
Thank you friends for your prayer and your love
In Christ Alone
-Emily Reina Kerkhof
