About six weeks ago I committed to going on a mission trip to New York City over Spring Break with Oklahoma City K-Life. For those of you who don't know what K-Life is, K-Life is a middle school and high school student ministry that I help out with. Anyway, I committed to going on the mission trip not really knowing where the finances would come from.
I decided to go on the trip because while I was praying about it, Matthew 28:18-20 was put on my heart. Some of you may know this as the "Great Commission" where Jesus instructs the disciples to "make disciples of all nations." As I thought about this verse, I began thinking, "Why wouldn't God want me to go on this trip?" I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to go, so I committed. The only problem was I wasn't sure how I would pay for it.
Ever since I was a little kid I saved all my money. When my sister and I would get an allowance for weekly chores, I saved every penny I received. Through the years I built-up a savings, but I had to cut into my savings this past year to pay for my trip to South Sudan. To help pay the total cost of going, I raised support from friends and family. I am so thankful for the generosity of those who supported me on that trip. I still had to use a large portion of my savings though to pay for the rest of the costs. I wasn't sure how I was going to pay for the trip to New York City knowing the money in my savings account would not be enough to cover all the expenses. I wasn't going to raise support either since I had just done that a few months ago. I just trusted that God would provide the money in His timing.
A couple weeks ago I wrote a check that covered part of the cost of going on the trip. Last Friday, March 9, I found out a K-Life board member donated a very generous amount on my behalf. After the generous donation by the board member, I still owed $300 as of this time last week. I continued to pray that God would provide.
Last Saturday, March 10, my mom left a voicemail on my phone telling me she had some "Good news." I called her back later that afternoon. She told me there was an envelope in the mail addressed to me that came in the mail the day before. When my mom saw who it was from, Mercy St. John's, she figured it was an insurance reimbursement for an office visit. When she opened the envelop, she saw a check addressed to me for $323. She suddenly realized St. John's reimbursed me for the vaccination shots I had to get before going to South Sudan. That's not the craziest part though.
When I received the vaccinations during Fall Break last year, I asked if our insurance would cover the cost, and they told me it would not. FIVE MONTHS LATER, I received a check they said would not come. Not only did I receive a check they said would not come, but I received the check the week the money was due for the New York City mission trip. I owed $300 for the mission trip, and I received this check for $323.
Is it any coincidence this money came the week the money was due for the New York City mission trip? I think not! God revealed his power in one of the most mighty ways I have ever experienced. I received those vaccinations FIVE MONTHS AGO! And they told me I would not be reimbursed for them. God intervened though and prompted someone to send me a reimbursement check.
There is no way anyone can doubt the power of God in this situation. There's no other explanation why this money would be sent to me at this specific time. It was all in God's timing.
If you don't believe in God, or don't believe in the power of God, seriously consider the significance of this situation. First, I wasn't even supposed to receive a reimbursement. Second, the money (that wasn't supposed to come) came the week all the money was due for the mission trip and happened to be enough to cover the $300 I still owed.
There is no other explanation other than God revealing His power, provision, faithfulness, and incredible timing, all for His glory and my joy.
If you ever feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to do something you don't have the resources for, take a step of faith and commit to whatever it is. God will reveal His power in ways you never could have imagined. NEVER let finances keep you from doing something God is calling you to do. He will provide all you need, in His timing... and don't be surprised if this happens to be at the last second.
God is real. God is loving. And God is active.
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