You blessed me today.

We spent most of the afternoon looking at luggage for our big family adventure. We compared prices, scanned Amazon, perused clearance deals. We felt the material, sat on the frame, unzipped all the pockets trying to imagine what exactly we need. My heart ached with how expensive the necessities of life add up to be. My brain pulsed from calculating how much things cost – how much I have and subtracting the difference.

My stomach felt the knot tighten.

Then, with items in hand we made our way to the checkout counter. You greeted us with a warm, beautiful smile while we waited on the cashier to return.

“Would you mind if I gave you a contribution to you trip?”

Your kindness blew me away. To watch you bound to your wallet, face lit up and retrieve our gift is something I’ll never forget.

Through you, God touched my anxious heart and said, “I see your concerns. I AM.”

He will provide for what He calls us to.

He will provide the time, the ability, the resources needed – not early, not late, but right on time.

In Corrie Ten Boom’s book The Hiding Place, it recounts a story between Corrie and her Father:

“Father sat down on the edge of the narrow bed. “Corrie,” he began gently, “when you and I go to Amsterdam-when do I give you your ticket?”

I sniffed a few times, considering this.

“Why, just before we get on the train.”
“Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things, too. Don’t run out ahead of Him, Corrie.”

If we had the ticket earlier, chances are, we’d lose it. God knows that. He will place that ticket in our hand at exactly the right moment.

That’s what He did through you today. He gave me yet one more confirmation of the plan He has for us. Thank you for listening. Thank you for obeying.

Your act is further proof of something I read recently that I’ve been tossing back in forth in my mind, trying to own. It’s from a book called The Green Letters by Miles Stanford. It opens up the chapter entitled Help this way:

“For most of us, it is time to stop asking God for help. He didn’t help us to be saved, and He doesn’t intend to help us live the Christian life….”

I could quote the whole chapter, but here’s one more line:

Each of us ha[s] to go beyond the ‘help’ stage for our new birth, and thank Him for what He ha[s] already done on our behalf.”

To put it In My Own Words, I take it as meaning, God doesn’t just come to help me when I call – when I’ve exhausted my list. He is my help. My very present help in times of trouble. He has given me everything I need for life and godliness. He has given me the tools I need for this mole hill, this mountain, whatever it is staring at me that seems insurmountable at the moment. He knows how to conquer it, and He’ll tell me if I’ll take the headphones off and listen to Him.

I have no email address for you, no form of communication, so here is my thank you note, sweet Suzie. You have encouraged me that God always takes care of us and often through His people. I will look for opportunity to pass your blessing on to someone else, but in the meantime, thank you!

And friends, stay tuned, I will share all about our Great Adventure in June!