I prayed big prayers, and they didn’t happen. I prayed for tons of people to come to my going away party, about 20 came. I prayed for the rest of my deadline money to come in at the party, I received $250. I was so thankful, but still discouraged.
So I began to protect myself. I decided I wouldn’t pray big prayers anymore because I didn’t want to be let down. I wanted to protect myself from being hurt by God when He doesn’t come through in the way that I want Him to come through. That’s so silly, isn’t it? I know, I know.
But you know how God is. He does His thing and teaches me a lesson right quick, even in my silliness and unbelief.
It was Saturday evening after my going away party, and I was still $995 short of my financial deadline. The party was over, so I really didn’t have any other places where that money could come from. I was out of ideas and had 3 days left.
I reminded my dad that we needed to put my car up for sale. It’s a piece, for real, so I wasn’t expecting much to come from it. We put it on craigslist at 8pm Saturday night.
19 hours later…
After being flooded with calls, texts, and e-mails of people interested in my car, it is sold for full asking price, I’m holding the cash in hand, and I am now overly funded for my financial deadline.
What just happened?
Let me rewind to Sunday morning. I’m sitting in my room, afraid to pray about this whole car thing. I didn’t want to ask yet again, and not receive yet again (I’m so silly, aren’t I). Reluctantly, I begin praying. I start off with “Uh hey God, so I don’t know if you know, but my car is for sale. It would be really cool if maybe you could get it sold quickly. It doesn’t have to be today (I wouldn’t want to ask too much), but maybe if you could have it sold by Tuesday? Maybe? So I could meet the deadline? Please?”
Y’all, do you hear that uncertainty? Do you hear that doubt? Do you hear how timid I was at the throne of God? You know what God was doing that whole time?
Chuckling and saying “Oh daughter, just you wait.”
Fast forward again to the afternoon, and not one, but TWO interested parties show up at my house at the same time (so awkward…) to check out the car. The first people go for a test drive and BAM, sold. Full asking price. No negotiation required. Kinda felt bad for the other people that came; they didn’t even get a chance to drive the car.
A little more time goes by, all the papers are signed, and my dad hands me a wad of cash and says, “Congratulations, you made the deadline.”
I’m just like huh? God, do you realize how quick that was? Are you sure you meant to do that?
OF COURSE HE DID.
If there’s one thing I learned through this, it’s that God want us to pray boldly and expectantly.
Three passages that the Lord brought me to over the last week are Mark 9:14-29, Luke 11:9-10, and Philippians 4:6-7.
I started to write about what I learned, but I realized I was basically writing a novel, so I decided to go ahead and make that a different blog for a different time.
It comes down to this: God is bigger than I can ever imagine. He holds the universe in His hands. He can provide, and He will provide, according to His good and perfect plan.
19 hours. That’s all He needed to teach me that.
What is God trying to teach you?
You know what else is the number 19? The number of days until I head to launch! What what!! I can’t believe it’s down to the teens. These last 10 months have gone faster than I could have imagined.
Praise be to God, the deadline is met, and I am officially heading to Atlanta on September 6th, and flying to UGANDA September 9th! Ahhh!!!
Let me first give thanks to the Lord for providing over $10,000 so that I can launch with my Squad. I am still in need of about $5,900 to be fully funded. I need to have $13,000 by October 31st, and the full $16,267 by December 31. If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past week it’s that God will provide. If you feel like that is something you want to be part of, click the Support Me button on the ride side of the fundraising bar at the top of this page.
Additionally, there are several people on my squad who have not met this week’s deadline! Some of those people are on my team (the smaller group of 6 other people that I will do day to day life with), so check out their blogs to pray and make a donation! Their names are Carly Spindler, Hannah Henderson, and Katie Needles, and their blogs can be found on the left side of this page.
Please be in prayer for the rest of my squad’s funding to come in by the deadline, and for our hearts as we prepare to serve God around the world!
