In English class one time, a friend of mine wrote an essay about how God miraculously provided for her and her family in an unexpected way. When she got her essay back from our teacher, “Thank providence!”, was written across the top. I found this funny, because the definition of providence is:
the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power.
Providence, as described here, is a characteristic or action of God. Therefore, thanking “providence” for providing for my friend could be compared to thanking the phone that your parents gifted to you, instead of your parents. The phone did nothing to benefit you; it is merely the object displaying the kindness of your parents. Thanking the phone for their kindness would just be weird.
Providence is a characteristic of God. It is not His provision we should thank, but it’s Him.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17
And MAN, have I experienced the miraculous provision and goodness of God! After church one Sunday not too long ago, my dad called me out of my room. Nervous I’d done something wrong, I walked precariously into the living room, only to be greeted by a folded red envelope. It contained $1000 in cash from an anonymous donor. Not long after that, one of my family members donated $2000. I am completely in awe of our Lord. The fact that He cares enough about me to put me on other people’s hearts is MIND-BLOWING.
Recently, one of the things causing me enormous stress was the shots that I needed to get to enter certain countries. I needed to get a yellow fever shot, otherwise I wouldn’t be allowed in. In other words, getting this shot is CRUCIAL. I would not be able to go on the WR without it. The only problem is that there is a world-wide shortage of the immunization. I’d been calling around frantically, not getting any closer to making an appointment. No one seemed to know what they were talking about, and no one was able to give me any advice. Finally, I found a clinic that had the shot, and was able to get an appointment. Now I have all the shots that I need! But during the whole process, that little voice in my head was telling me that I wouldn’t find a clinic that could get me in on time, because I waited too long to make an appointment. That it would be all my fault, and that I would not be able to go on the race because of it.
Thank God for people in my life that remind me of the truth and knock it into my head! God is good, no matter how many times I mess up or think I blew it, and if He wants me on the race, He will make a way!
God has provided for me in so many ways all throughout my life, both physically and emotionally, but it’s much easier for me to trust that God will take care of my physical needs than to trust that He’ll take care of my heart. The biggest struggle I have as launch approaches is believing that I just have too many issues to thrive during the race. I still feel like I’m not good enough or prepared enough, and have a hard time believing that God loves me perfectly, just how I am, and that I can trust Him with my heart. If I have one prayer request, it’d be for the absolute certainty and assurance that God loves me, that I am chosen, and that I belong with Him.
Thank you all so much for following along with my journey as God has been teaching me and growing me. Thank you for all the prayers that you’ve said for me, encouragement you’ve given me, donations you’ve sent my way, and for reading my blogs! It means so much to me! God has been using you in mighty ways!
The time has almost come for me to ACTUALLY LAUNCH!!! I am SOOO excited!!!!! I hop on a plane to Atlanta in 5 days, and will be leaving for Battambang, Cambodia not long after that! I’ll spend my first month there with my whole squad (57 people), and then move to Siem Reap with my team of 6 other girls!! The first month, my whole squad will be giving up our phones, so if you contact me and I don’t respond, that’s why. I will be posting blogs though, so keep an eye out for that!
Now, the most crazy, fantastic, amazing part of this!!! God’s provision has brought me to a measly $500 from being FULLY FUNDED!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? HE IS SO GOOD!!!!!! If you want to help me get fully funded by the time I leave, just press donate at the top of my blog page!! Thank you so much for your support and for taking the time to read this!!
