A friend encouraged me to share the full story of God’s World Race provision from start to finish:
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19
Sitting in church at Hillsong NYC, my Pastor Carl Lentz jokingly described God’s ability, saying, “Won’t He do it?”
Yes, it was hilarious, but the message really stuck. Our God can do ANYTHING.
It would only be a few months after this that God would call me to leave an amazing on-camera job, a church family, and a city that I adored.
He had a plan for my sister and me, and it wouldn’t come cheap, either. It was a calling that would cost $36,000.
I quit my job. I moved back in with my parents. I sold everything I owned: my new car, my expensive clothes, even my special jewelry.
I started working two jobs, thinking that I would “meet God halfway,” and that He and I were “in this fight to fundraise together.”
In reality, all He wanted from me was surrender.
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” Hosea 6:6
My sister and I saved up enough money to buy the supplies we needed for the race. As an act of faith, we dropped about $3,500 cash on tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, daypacks… Everything we needed to live 11-months out of a backpack.
A few hours later, everything was stolen.
My heart broke. I felt defeated in a way I never had before.
I couldn’t understand. We’d worked so hard. I’d given up everything for this calling.
How could this happen?
Through the tears, my sister encouraged me to trust God and remember His promise in Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
The next day, we were on the 5 o’clock news on two different Houston network affiliates, telling our story at the top of the hour.
Donations started pouring in, along with encouraging words and prayers.
A week later, a check arrived for the full amount we’d lost.
God restored us to over and above the amount that had been stolen.
For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20
We shared our testimony at church and our church family helped us organize a live auction fundraiser.
We spent a month collecting donations, selling tickets, and praying that God would bless our efforts.
In one night, through the giving hearts of friends and family, God provided $22,000 for our mission trip.
My sister and I were going on the World Race.
“Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’” Luke 10:5
We landed in Santiago, Chile.
I took a deep breath and stepped through the gate into the church grounds, where I’d be serving for the next month.
I locked eyes with the people I’d be serving, and I remembered God’s voice in my heart when He’d called me so many months ago.
“Yes, I called you to do this and yes, I’ll go with you to each country. But keep in mind that I’m also already there, expectantly waiting for your arrival.”
I’m here, God. We made it.
WON’T HE DO IT.
