A Willing Heart

Sometimes, God asks us to do things that don't make sense to our natural minds at the moment...

You may have heard the phrase, “God will not force you to do anything.” In His Patience, He waits….He waits… and waits for us to respond to His gentle knocks. After my first semester at Bible College, A church in Pennsylvania invited me to intern. I said yes. It was the best experience serving alongside some of the most remarkable leaders in ministry. I remember leaving the internship excited for all God had in store for my second semester!

But a few weeks into the semester, I sensed the Holy Spirit say, “After your second semester, you will return to Pennsylvania for a season.” This made no sense to my natural mind because why would God call me out of the military and to a Bible school for four years only to have me disenroll for a season to attend another school? I needed God to confirm that I was not tripping, so I went on an extended fast to align my heart with His. I knew I would be confident about God’s leading by the end of this fast.

God made it super clear that I was supposed to leave in faith. I was scared because I did not know how to pay for this school's tuition. So I prayed again and asked God, "How will You provide all I need to attend this school?" And He whispered….Wipe out your savings and pay for the tuition up front! "But God, that is my JUST IN CASE stash!" You know, in case an emergency comes up? But in His gentleness, He was inviting me into a new place of dependence on Him. So I obeyed and paid the tuition, shed some tears, packed my car, and departed from the current school at the end of that semester.

Side note: Depending on God was not the sharpest tool in my toolbox. I was raised by a single mom who taught me to be an independent woman. So this task was a stretch for me, but I had peace in my heart and a lot of what-if questions:)

I went home for a few months to be with family until school started that fall. A few days into my stay at home, I received a call from the new school I had applied for, and the person asked, “What is the address where you are currently staying?” "So I told them … and the person said," We are mailing you back the check you sent to us, and you will attend this school tuition FREE and be allowed to intern with our staff while you are in school here. I was awestruck by the faithfulness of God!

But His favor continued…a few weeks later, I received another call from someone I had met that previous summer when I was an intern who said, “I heard you are coming back to Pennsylvania for school, and I have been asking God how I could be a blessing to someone, and I want to bless you with a place to stay while you are in town. She said, “Do not worry about the finances; just come and do the will of God.” 

To God be the glory; that was the year that God taught me what it meant to move out in faith and depend on Him. Though I could not see the whole picture, I gave God my YES, and he exceeded my expectations. 

Heavenly Perspective: we don't know why God asks us to do certain things, but these are opportunities He gives us to trust Him. In every season, God teaches us new ways to trust Him. I share this story as an encouragement to let you know that YES to the Lord matters. I don't know what God may ask you to do this season, but I know God is faithful, so just say yes! I had to do it scared…there were so many things that were not clear, but I knew God was in it. YOU CAN TRUST HIM MY FRIEND.