“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:31-33
This is a hard thing for me to do; to fully rely on the Lord, and to not worry about all the little things going on in my life. Along with this, I have a problem of always looking towards the future, getting ready for the next big thing coming my way, instead of just enjoying the present day that I have been given. It’s kind of a problem.
God has been teaching me so much in this area lately, especially in relation to the World Race. It’s overwhelming for me to process all the details that go along with this trip: the funds I have to raise, the gear I need to buy, the preparation of my mind, the thought of leaving my friends and family for a year etc… . It makes my chest tighten up just thinking about it. But our Lord provides, and I find this true whenever I actually lay down these burdens at His feet. He turns my doubts, insecurities and anxieties into thoughts of excitement, peace and willingness. When my mind is centered on Jesus and the cross, going on the World Race is about the only thing I can imagine doing this next year.
The Lord has also been providing for me in amazing, tangible ways! When I was accepted I was told that I would need to provide a $150 donation to myself as a way of accepting my position on the World Race. I began to set aside money from work, but I was slightly stressing out about it, as I had a few other big bills that needed to be taken care of. Then, one week before it was due, I experienced a peace that could only come from the Lord. I was at Lifegroup (my weekly bible study), and we were praying about specific struggles we were having. I hadn’t even brought up my financial worries, but all of a sudden the money I had been saving for my deposit flashed in my mind, along with the phrase “Your money is not your own”. It was at that moment that I gave that anxiety that I had been feeling to God. I basically said “Okay God, I trust you, I need you to provide this for me.”
The next day, I received an anonymous note taped to my door, telling me that my first World Race support had been given in the amount of around $150. Amazing. God provides, He truly, truly provides. A week ago, I also received a message from a great friend, saying that he would design and print my support letters, free of cost. Unbelievable. The minute I give my money and troubles to the Lord, He provides in ways I could never have even imagined. I think about what my life would look like if I lived my whole life this way. If I didn’t worry about what tomorrow would bring, but instead lived and loved the day that I was presently living in. If I gave my money to help the poor and the needy, and in turn trusted fully that the Lord would provide for me in the same way. He loves us SO much, and He wants the absolute best for our lives, why wouldn’t we trust Him to provide us with the absolute best life?
“‘ForI know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future’.” Jeremiah 29:11
