“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
One month ago my 1995 Oldsmobile 88 Royale with 91,000 miles was running like a top. Three weeks ago my car began to smell of gasoline throughout the car including through the A/C vents. I took the car in to get fixed and maintained at a local car repair shop, one of great rapport and integrity. After hearing back on the car, I was informed that the problem was EXTREMELY dangerous and my car could have exploded at anytime. Thank the Lord for protecting me from going up in cloud of smoke. However, to fix the car it would cost me $500. I was glad to get the car fixed and ready to go.
Unfortunately, within a week of getting the car back, my auto shut down while driving my friends home. I called AAA and had it towed back. The repair shop let me know that the coolant gasket had melted and been destroyed, spewing coolant into my cylinders and engine. This time it would cost $1,200 to fix. I kept viewing these repairs as an investment in a car that would serve me for the next five years in ministry.
WRONG AGAIN…
After the car being fixed and being given the stamp of approval by the shop manager, five days later I found myself once again on the side of the road with an overheated car and my oil pressure light on. Frustrated, I called the shop and they paid for it to be towed. This time, the news was not hopeful. My engine was shot. After pouring $1,700 into the car over two weeks, I would need to find a new car.
Throughout this month of turmoil on my car, I continued to speak with God, “I know you are in control, but what is going on?” I have been preparing to move out to San Diego in September, but now having to find a new vehicle seemed like a monumental task. I turned to God to provide and to the saints for prayer. In my latest prayer update to all my contacts, I asked for prayer that God would provide the car he wants me to have. A day later I received a phone call from sweet and dear friends saying they had a car for me. While we talked, they said they had a 1997 Prizm in great condition, a 5 speed manual, FOR FREE. After praying, in their incredible faithfulness to the Lord, they decided they wanted to provide and simply give me their car. They want to sign it over to me for no price, with the only condition being if I ever decide to get a new car, I would return it back to be used or given elsewhere. This was a HUMONGOUS answer to prayer and in such short time.
In the Bible, starting in Genesis 22 with Abraham and Isaac, God is often identified with the name Jehovah Jireh, which means The Lord Will Provide. In this certain story of Abraham and Isaac, God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar. Right as Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, God stops him and provides a ram in place of Isaac. Verse 14 of chapter 22 reads, “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” Just as God provided for Abraham and Isaac, He still provides for His children today, in His own timing. God often brings us through trials and times of complete trust, in order to grow our faith in Him.
Phillipians 4:19 says: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” This verse has constantly come to mind as I have asked God what in the world He was doing. I know that God promises to provide what we need; I don’t know how in most situations. God puts me into places where He asks, do you believe what I say? I am learning more and more, as Christ builds my faith muscle, that God is a man of His word, even when I often forget. With this miraculous gift from God in such a short time I am reminded to trust His Word and promises. Next time I am in dire need, I hope my first reaction is to remember how He provided this week.
What are we trusting God for today?
