Through My Weakness He Is Glorified

At first I wished it could have been easier. I wished that the funds would have flooded in quickly. I knew that God would provide what I needed and assumed that this meant it would be easy and at the end of my fingertips. That put a condition on Gods providence. I limited Him. I put Him in a box. It was a beautiful box, one where His will was easy, but it was a box none the less.

 

I have been weak throughout the fundraising process. I have been jealous of my teammates that seemed to have an easy and quick time getting the funds. I have been disappointed with some Christians I know. I have had little faith. I have had doubts. I have worried.

 

To my teammates, friends, family, supporters and most importantly God, I am sorry.

 

Surprisingly I must say, I would not trade in this weakness for anyone else’s fundraising experience. This is something I needed to go through to learn some lessons. And it added to my relationship with God even more. It has been hard, and its not over yet, but I can see Gods glory through all of this.

 

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

(Romans 5:3-5)

 

I learned I needed to ask.

 

I learned to place all faith in Him, not humans.

 

I learned His will is not always easy.

 

I learned not to worry.

 

I learned to expect supernatural things.

 

I learned to be bold.

 

I learned that when I am weak He is my strength.

 

I learned I can’t limit God.

 

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

 

When I am weak, He is able to show me His strength. He becomes my strength. Through my weakness He is glorified!

 

Friday morning started off shaky. I was getting ready for work and started up a conversation with my dad about the trip. This talk went long enough that I was going to be late for work, I was a wreck and ended up taking a personal day off.

 

My dad opened up my eyes to the fact that I was limiting God. I had thought before that if I took out a loan as a backup plan, that that meant I didn’t have faith in God to provide. I opened up to the fact that God could use a loan as a way to provide for my trip.  But I still felt a conviction that God was going to provide the funds.

 

I went outside in the backyard and cried out to God. I was down on my knees in the grass, with my face buried in my hands and tears coming down my face. I confessed to God that I was worrying and apologized for limiting Him. I told Him I wouldn’t limit Him anymore. I asked Him to work supernaturally for the rest of the fundraising, because it wasn’t “humanly” possible in my eyes. I thanked him for what He had already done, and thanked Him for what He was doing that I couldn’t see. And I told Him that whatever happens, I want His glory to shine. I asked Him to use my weaknesses as a chance to shine His glory through.

 

Shortly after I got a call from my pastor with the decision on how much my church will be supporting me. Seaside Community Baptist Church will be supporting me $500 to start off and $100 per month Im gone. This is coming from a church that meets in a school gym, is only a year old and has no mission board to decide something like this. Praise God! (And thank you Seaside)

 

I had put up some items on kijij to sell to raise some money to go towards the trip cost. Within the first few hours I had over 30 replies back and sold a few items already. Praise God! (And thank you those people that bought something)

 

A few hours later a close friend of mine I met at college pledged $150 per month that I will be gone. This is coming from a guy a year younger then me, who is saving up to put himself through school next year. Praise God! (And thank you MJ)

 

Before I went to bed I checked my AIM account to see how much funds were in there, and someone had made an anonymous donation of $1,680. Which is how much I needed to fulfill my 60% deadline before I leave. Praise God! (And thank you “anonymous”)