Funny story about this postcard.
When I would wash my dishes I’d look at this picture, and every time I saw the little girl in the bright red sweatshirt, staring up at this huge bubble, I would just get a wonderful reminder how my Father sees me: as His precious little child, full of curiosity and wonder, enjoying the gift her Father gave her. The picture brought me such joy, little did I know there was more to it:
One morning, fully armed with a soapy sponge in one hand and plate in the other I saw it:
The little girl’s dad! (Do a double- take and look at the picture again. Do you see him?)
He’s behind her as they make this incredible bubble together. He’s supporting her, participating with her, and smiling with her. He’s guiding her hands on the bamboo sticks, and while he’s fully confident in what he’s doing, his little girl is trusting her dad and enjoying the moment with him.
How I wish that my relationship with the Lord has always looked like this, but honestly and truly, it hasn’t. There have been days where bubbles have popped and soapy suds spilled every everywhere, all because I’ve tried to make bubbles all by myself.
Another example, fundraising for the Race. For months, I tried time and time again to “get the donations in” whether it was through emails, blogs, or other ways. Please don’t get me wrong, these ways of reaching out and fundraising are important and effective, but the trouble I had was this: believing that it was only through my own efforts and my own strength (or lack thereof) that donations were (or weren’t) coming in.
It’s been a long, challenging road while fundraising for the Race. I did not pray much about fundraising,which led to some really tough times before and during the Race. (By the way, if you’re a future Racer, I HIGHLY encourage you to do before you even start a single draft of your support letter)
After many a wrestle with Him, many a tear shed next to Him, and many, many, a cry out to Him, He showed me something about myself that I wouldn’t have learned if I was conveniently fully funded when I wanted to be:
that
I
wasn’t
trusting
Him.
I wasn’t trusting Him with with HIS provision for me.
I wasn’t trusting in His promise that I’d be able to do all 11 months of the Race.
I was striving, and striving, and striving, making myself sick with anxiety and worry, all because things weren’t happening when I wanted them to and the way I wanted them to.
But things have always been happening for my good.
Things are still happening for my good.
Because I love God and He cares for me and about me.
This month I fully surrendered my fundraising plans and paradigms, and finally and permanently exchanged the lie of working to attain His promises and His provision for the Truth: God WILL provide every penny I still need to raise, and if it’s His plan for me to finish the Race, He’ll make it happen.
His ways are not like my ways, in fact, they’re better. So now, I’m celebrating and rejoicing that it’s not through my efforts alone that will keep me on the Race, but what will keep me on the Race is my faith by His Grace.
My faith allows me to stand on His Promise that He’ll meet ALL of my needs, including supplying the $4,471 by July 1, 2014 in order for me to be fully funded, according to His glorious riches.
Free from the trappings of the lie I was in, now I am able to really enjoy my time in Myanmar, fully embracing this beautiful, raw country, full of people who are starving for the Love of Jesus.
Now I feel like that little girl again, knowing that my Dad’s got it, fully enjoying each moment with Him, as we together, create something beautiful.
Again, I believe that I’ll be staying on the Race, and that all $4,471 will come into my World Race account exactly when it needs to be there (by July 1, 2014.)
If you’d like to help me continue to be His ambassador to the nations and donate to my World Race account, simply click here to donate.
Thank you so much for your time.
Praying you’re making bubbles with Our Dad,
-Kimberly
