Recently I was asked to share what God has been teaching me as of late and I quickly replied with three words – GOD IS FAITHFUL.
There is nothing earth-shattering about this, is there? No. It’s a truth about God that I have seen and known for years, but in the midst of my life over the last couple of years I have forgotten this truth that is, indeed, earth-shattering! See in the midst of betrayal, slander, lies, disappointments, selfishness, people not holding their comments and the like (These are a few of the things that I have struggled through in the past couple years.), we forget that God is faithful. I’m not sure why, but I forget this and some how, some way, God always brings me back. Brings me back to the realization that He is faithful and all he requires of me, is that I am faithful back and He will take care of the rest!
Recently, He reminded me once again, as I was forgetting that he indeed is faithful even as I raise support, that He’s there, that He’s fateful.
So I have a gracious supporter, who owns a few car dealerships, who is loaning me a car while I’m back crisscrossing the Mid-West searching out people who want to partner with me to reach Prague, Czech, Europe and beyond by transforming sport for the glory of God and the good of Czechs, Europeans and more! The car has been a HUGE blessing, as my parents no longer have a free car thanks to my driving baby sister (Mikaela is almost 17!). Anyway, because they, the staff at his dealerships, are very good at what they do, they sold the silver Chevy HHR I was driving, even though it wasn’t on the lot! Due to that I needed to return the car to them, so we could trade. Here’s the thing though I was already an hour and a half away, on my way to Oshkosh, but because they are blessing me so much, I wanted to return and trade HHR colors, and then head north again.
However, I was a little bitter with God, as I would have to give up three hours of my day and trying to connect with people via telephone calls, emails, Facebook message, tweets and/or however I can connect with people! So I headed south, praying out loud and wrestling with the Creator of the Universe about my attitude and the situation. After praying and God straightening me out, I had a wave of inspiration to make some calls and follow people up, whom I had met with! Well, those 10 calls all resulted in me leaving about 10 voicemails, so this began the process with me and God wrestling again and Him calming my nerves and assuring me that things would be okay…
I finally reached the dealer, swapped HHRs (silver for red) and was about to head out, when I thought, “I’ll try to say, “Hi” to Gregg (my ministry partner).” Well that is when God showed me His faithfulness again! Gregg and I talked for maybe 3 minutes and I thought I was about to begin the 2 hour drive north to Oshkosh, but God’s faithfulness hit me like a 2×4 to the face! Right as I was about to leave the building two of the salesmen, one of which I already knew, stopped me and began asking me questions about what I do in Prague with Athletes in Action and what God is doing there. So there I stood on the “sales floor” of a successful car dealer, “selling” what God is doing over in Prague and talking about how I love inviting people to partner with me. After a few minutes one of them responds with, “My wife and I have been praying for a new opportunity, that we could support and I’m really excited about what you are doing. We’ll get back to you soon.”
“Are you serious God?!!?” is what I thought in that moment. I had just argued with God about coming down and “wasting” my “precious time” but God had different plans. You know what, his plans were better too! God is faithful, even as I was, or am, being a punk and arguing with Him! So where are you today? What are you arguing with God about today? How have you forgotten about His faithfulness to you?
Because whether or not you feel or belief He is faithful to you, He is! Trust Him. Turn to Him. Thanks for being in this journey with me!