Three weeks ago I wrote an article talking about how I know the Lord will provide for every need I have, as He is faithful and promises to do so. At the time I was alternating between motel rooms and my friends’ couch, waiting to see what kind of housing situation was going to open up while I am in Ft. Myers. (Side note – it’s hard to believe a month has gone by already). Myself, and many others on my behalf, had been praying for some type of free, or at least inexpensive, home to become available so I could no longer live like a vagabond with a suitcase.
Around the same time I wrote that article, Beauty From Ashes was just beginning a partnership with a local realty company, what I see as nothing short of a God-orchestration. Not only was this the beginning of a relationship which I believe will impact hundreds, but due to this “random” meeting at one of the properties the company manages I was given the opportunity to rent a fully-furnished home for about ¼ of the price after my supervisor explained my situation to one of the managing partners. Talk about a divine interaction.
What I don’t want to do is neglect how the Lord was and is always meeting my needs even as I was “waiting” for housing. He has been bringing in financial resources through amazing people who continue to blow my mind with their selfless giving, allowing me the opportunity to be a full-time, unpaid intern with Beauty From Ashes. I know what I am learning here is going to affect the rest of my life and the ministry the Lord has led me into. He has provided free food at times (hello, two free hot dogs from 7-11 thanks to the contest on my Slurpee cup). He has given me friends from home who happen to live two hours away. I needed some inexpensive, professional-looking clothing and sure enough I found what I needed at affordable stores like Ross and Kohl’s.
I am left in awe seeing the Lord’s work day in and day out, both with me personally and with Beauty From Ashes. I have realized that for the majority of my life I wasn’t completely relying on the Him, mainly because I didn’t think I “had” to as I always had a job, had a savings account, had a place to live, had friends around me, had a car, etc. He gave me those, and I knew that in my head, but until recently I never experienced what it means to utterly depend on the Lord for everything. And though challenging at times, I can say I never want to go back to “safe” because that is when I become more fixated on the world instead of the Great I Am. And the I Am knows exactly where I am. He will never leave me; He will never forsake me. And He has never, ever left me in a place of need. 🙂
