The answer to this question is pretty obvious, but that doesn’t stop people from asking… A lot.
If I don’t raise enough money to go on the race, then I won’t go on the race. It’s that simple. Yes, there are other options. I could take a shorter trip. And no, none of the money gifted to me will be lost or given to another participant. It will be used by me, for a missions trip.
But essentially, what you’re asking me is… What if trusting God doesn’t work out?
For a while here, I’ll admit I was very doubtful that I’d be able to go on the World Race. I started looking at some shorter (cheaper) trips. But why? Money. I’m a waitress paying bills by the grace of what my tables leave me. But I’m also a follower of Christ stepping out by the grace of what He provides. And he always does.
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19
Here’s the problem with money, and quite frankly, a lot of other things. People don’t trust God, myself included. The tighter we hold onto our money, the less of it we seem to have. We start counting every penny that we spend, thinking about a time we’ll need it in the future. But with money, relationships, jobs, and essentially everything else, the more control we seek, the less God has and the more lack we start to see in our lives. Surrendering and giving God control to use our money how he’d like to leaves room for him to provide for us through people, and for people through us. As an alumni of a passport missions trip, I have a million friends taking trips just like mine and a million opportunities to support them, even as I trust the Lord to support me. I have to remind myself that the Lord’s resources are limitless.
This is not to say that money’s not a valid struggle for people, and that some certainly have more wiggle room to be giving than others. If you’re in a financial hardship, I’m not blaming you for it. I’m simply drawing attention to the idea that God is the owner of all things, financial, circumstantial, relational and otherwise.
So, if money is the only thing stopping me, should I let it? Would God let it? Why should I treat God as incapable?
We want things we can wrap our heads around. We want to be able to understand. That, in my opinion, is a predominant reason for skeptics of God. If I can’t understand it, why would I believe it? Because God is bigger than us. He cannot be fathomed. My mind is small, but my God isn’t. My full understanding of God would make him small, simple minded, easy to read, when he is just the opposite. If I could understand God’s ways, then they must not be all that awesome. But they are. And He is. It doesn’t have to make sense. Faith makes a fool of what makes sense. (Thank you, Hillsong.)
So what’s the problem? It’s my faith. Do I really believe God is who he says, and does what he says? Well, yes. But in my flesh I doubt. Because again, I can’t understand it all the time. The question boils down to if there really is a God. For many reasons, I am certain that there is. And if there is a God, and he could make you, and me, and the rest of the universe, how could he not be capable of providing a few grand? This is a MUCH less big deal.
“Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” Luke 12:24
I refuse to limit God’s capabilities to my comprehension. By making my own, smaller, and more sensible plans I am telling God the limitations to which he can use me. And he will only use me to the extent that I allow, he is not a tyrant that will have me serve him forcibly. God has every resource imaginable, time, money, people, and favor at his whim. He can bend them and use them and change hearts. The slimmer the odds, the more seemingly impossible, the less room there leaves for an explanation other than God. He wants it to point to him, He wants it to bring him the glory.
So there are 2 possible outcomes of my fundraising.
1) I go.
2) I don’t go.
And both are fine. If I go, then I go! If I don’t go, then I know it’s because God has something better and not because I didn’t believe he could provide for me. Don’t get me wrong, raising over 13,000 is no easy task. But it’s not my challenge to face. Like all things, this belongs to God. It’s not actually about me at all, it’s all about God and how able he is.
Carefree in the care of God, that’s what I am.
With all this being said, if you have a heart to donate to my trip, I’d be so thankful. I had a deadline pass that I’m a bit behind for. As my supporter, know you’re being prayed for everyday, and know you’re the reason God’s kingdom is expanding. Thank you! God bless!
