God's timing

This afternoon, I got the phone call that every faith-supported person dreads: basically, "Your account is in the red, and we can't pay you a full paycheck next week." Ouch. What are you trying to teach me, God? But He is never absent from such situations. In fact, one of our friends who started giving annually last year already had a check written that would help cover the whole amount. Perfect timing.

I've had other experiences like this. Going on my first ministry trip in 1998 (before Firestone), there was a deadline of May 31 to get half of the funds I needed to go. I had very little toward this amount, so I was tempted to hold onto what little I had received, so that I could give it back...just in case God doesn't come through. But He convicted me about this, and I went ahead and sent it in, knowing I couldn't retrieve it again. I walked up to the front of my small church on a Sunday night, told everyone my plans, and asked for their support. The plate was passed, and more than $400 was raised--praise the Lord, but not enough. A few minutes later, my former neighbor approached me to say that he believed God wanted him to give me the down payment for a truck he was going to buy--$500. I was so amazed at the way God worked and who He moved to give--not the richest persons, as I expected. I had more than enough--not only that, but I felt very emboldened to seek the rest, and God richly provided.

In living by faith, a question can arise. How much am I to pray and trust God and how much am I to seek out new partners and gifts, acting as a good steward? The answer always seems to be both. God doesn't tend to reward those who are not bold and unafraid to risk asking, but He still gets the glory because those who ask never know who will say yes or no. It's still a mystery.

My hope is that, through this experience, God will give me a testimony that I can pass along to my other friends (those I'm trying to encourage toward the field, namely) who may be feeling discouraged and are tempted to give up, as I have been.