Lindsay L. O'Connor

The Lord is continuing to teach me, bless me, and show me His character in action as departure for the Kenya trip approaches in just a little over a week. One of the greatest concerns I had in making the decision to go was raising financial support since I:
a) hate asking people for money,
b) have never raised financial support for a mission trip before, and
c) flat out didn’t know if I would be able to raise enough to cover the expense of the trip.

Oh me of little faith. I felt like God wanted to use this as an opportunity for me to demonstrate faith as I waited expectantly to see how He would provide. As much as I hate asking people for money, I decided that I needed to refrain from expecting any one individual to give but rather to expect fully for God to provide through whatever means seemed good to Him. After all, if He wants me to go on this trip, surely He will make it happen.

Yesterday, I received a check in the mail from a sweet woman who poured much of herself into blessing college students during my days at TCU. I pulled up my spreadsheet to look at what I had raised thus far, which was already over the amount I owed the church. I added up expenses for immunizations (a whopping 5 shots!!), doctor visits, etc. The total cost came to just over $2 more than what I had, not counting the new check. I began to wonder what I would say in my letter to her to explain why I was sending her check back.

And then it hit me. God was using her contribution to show me that He indeed IS more than enough. Imagine that! I’ve read it and sung it in praises to Him, yet I still struggled with having the faith to believe that He would provide for the finances of this trip. I was reminded of the truth of Ephesians 3:20-21: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

My heart is full of thanks to God for His rich provision and for demonstrating His faithfulness so clearly to me. I am learning so much during this precious time and am finding my faith stretched and increased in so many ways that I’m beginning to wonder how I possibly had any faith to begin with. Praises to the one I adore, to the one whose grace is sufficient for me, whose power is perfected in weakness! (2 Corinthians 12:9)