I know that, along with those challenges, comes fear. The first to creep in for me is fear of not making it. I know that I don’t have that kind of money, and dependency scares me. Depending on people, means that you are on their time and money. Yet in the midst of it all, God reminds me that dependency can be useful. Matter of fact, it’s incredible because we all have to depend on God.
God will never open a door that He would not provide for. So I know He has a plan ready, and the people prepared to give. He has gifted certain people with the ability to give, and he will call others to give out of faith. So I’m working on not being worried about that.
As I work on that, God has reminded me of the story of Gideon. From how he was called until the battle commenced, God asked him to trust His words. Eventually, God called him to believe that He was going to provide.
The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and any one of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.”
Immeasurable odds need an Immeasurable God! This story is incredible because it shows the power and provision of God. Gideon’s army won without losing a single man. Those odds shouldn’t exist because it’s nearly impossible. Gideon’s army was three hundred, whereas the enemies army was 135,000; which means for every one of Gideon’s men, they would have to fight 450 men…alone.
What better way for God to remind me how much he is going to provide for me; especially with the odds against me. Like Gideon’s army, everyone knew that it was only by God that they won. All of Israel knew that the Lord had gone before them. As I begin to raise this money, I want the same thing. As people look at the amount, I want them to see that only God could have provided it.
I also hope that as you all give, you see God working in you. The changes and growth that’ll happen on this trip will only be because you allowed God to first work in and through you. Even if you can’t give, understand that that is fine; also know that you can be praying for me. Although this trip is not happening until next year, I know that this year will be challenging as I prepare for it. So please join me in praying!
Also, I hope you see how much God can provide for you if you just have faith and trust in Him.
