Photo by Jami Dale.For the past week my daughter Sara and I have connected because there has been a need...her car died. It's always stressful, annoying and just a total inconvenience when any hour of life has to be devoted to dealing with car issues. But needs have a way of drawing people together. It's a time to rally around and get the problem dealt with so life can be back to normal, especially in her case with 9 month old Wyatt. Babies need routine. Breaking that can be an added layer of stress. Sometimes the expectation is that this need has to be fixed or remedied by a certain method or by certain people. However, pulling everyone together allows for the best possible outcome. It allows the mixture of resources, energy, intelligence and prayer to come together in one unique opportunity to support and bless that individual who is in need. In this case, it was Sara and Wyatt.
I'm so thrilled that she called me to include me in that circle of contacts as she reached out for help. There were several options for assistance, but in my case only one bubbled to the surface that seemed plausible at this moment. And that was ok. Because realizing that I couldn't just do it all or fix it all, which is sometimes a Mom's curse, I took to the only other thing I could do - just pray. At a time like this our prayers are so specific, so exact, so intense. Any parent would go to bat with the God of the Universe for our children! That is what I did.
Realizing my inability to give in a way to supply a solution to all of her need, I went to God who has ALL resources at His disposal. I knew that in asking for Him to provide a miracle - that He would. I prayed that she would see His goodness and His provision in her life and that she could trust Him for the answer to this problem. I'm not the supplier of all her needs...God is. That is not my role anymore, hasn't been for a very long time. I wanted God to make Himself look bigger in her life and surprise her in a big way with the blessing she needed to move through this stressful time. And, without a doubt in my mind, knowing that He could and would, I left it with God to provide the solution. And He did.
Photo by Shawn Ray.
When we talked last night, she told me that she had her new car in her possession and it was a better car than she ever thought she could own. OMG...what??? already? I was shocked! As the story goes, a couple of very special friends stepped forward to offer what they had to help her. One person decided they could co-sign with her on the loan, two other people blessed her with the downpayment that was a gift and didn't need to be repaid. Wow! Is God good, or what??? Today, the paperwork will be signed and off she will go. Life back to normal. God didn't need me this time to provide the answer or solution, just support and prayer. He already knew who would be helping her, I just had to take a step back and let God work His magic. Her friends were acting on the impressions they received from God to help her in this time of need. And what a blessing they are to her. Does that mean that next time these are the ones who will provide her need? No, not exactly. They are wonderful people, but not necessarily the ones to continue stepping out in this particular way. No one needs to be that to another person. As long as we are open to the possibility that God will provide, then the blessings come from wherever He designates. Anyone can be used to bless another. I'm amazed and in awe, again, at His faithfulness to care for His precious children. Proof that He loves us indeed.
I believe that when we get that prompting, that impression, that voice telling us to move in a certain way, walk a certain direction, or talk to a certain person, it's always for a purpose. If these few friends had not listened to that, she would not be the recipient of a huge, unexpected blessing. But they did listen, they did respond and she is truly blessed by their generosity. Seeing how God works, makes me want to be one of those people chosen to help others, to give to others, to share and bless others. Not just once, but over and over and over, on a daily basis, if the need is there. I always have felt that God gave me the gift of giving. So, if that is true, then I had to trust that God will fund or resource that giving. He will also tell me when, where and for whom. It's happened so many times in the past and it will again in the future. I want to be so attentive to that small voice that directs me to help someone else. I want to be so sensitive that I see the needs of others and can't resist reaching out. I want to be so well resourced that helping seems like the right thing to do.
There is an amazing set of verses in the Bible that talk about generosity, 2 Corinthians 9.7-12:
"7-11 God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,
He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
12-15Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!"
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