In the Spring of 2008, I began an adventure of faith.
December 31, 2007, I sat at Perkins working on goals for the upcoming new year. Somehow, I happened to read 2 Corinthians 13:5, which says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” I was challenged to look at my life – was I truly living by faith?
At the time, I was enrolled in Bible School. My tuition covered room and board as well as a monthly amount of spending money to cover personal expenses. It was the “safest” environment I could be in outside of living at home. I would always have enough food and my basic needs were met. Why, then, wasn’t I living in faith when it came to my finances?
I determined that I would live 2008 with the question in front of me: Why not give it all? Jesus gave it all. He challenged us to be generous and promised that we would reap the harvest. I decided that night that I would live generously and see what He would do.
I then faced one of the richest and most challenging semesters of my life. I walked in generosity and I faced what I perceived as “lack.” I struggled with not seeing fruit of the generosity (we always expect immediate results!). One day, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, “Would you rather receive a return on your investment now, after just a few weeks, or a few years down the road, when you’re preparing for or on the field and don’t have regular income?” My immediate response: “Lord, keep it! Protect it! Make it grow!” I had a paradigm shift that day.
Months later, I began to see fruit from those seeds. Four years later, I am looking back upon consistent provision. The numbers don’t line up… how could I have possibly paid that much for school? How did I manage to do what God called me to do and be generous? How did I afford to take two trips to Colombia during that time?
God has been so generous. People around me have walked in obedient generosity. He has used people to supply for my needs over and over again. One day in November 2010, I was feeling particularly discouraged about my school payments – I simply didn’t have what I needed. I was almost $500 short. I walked to the mailbox in the chilling wind and mist and asked God where the provision was. I had believed what He said. He had promised to take care of it.
When I got inside I looked through the mail and found an anonymous letter with my name (on a typed label) – along with five $100 bills and this note:
His provision never fails…