A Window into God’s Heart

God is a father who provides for his children. 

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11

I started fundraising for the Race when I had a total of $250 in my bank account. I remember looking at the number $21,500 with eyes as big as saucers, thinking how that was 86x the amount of money I had to my name. People often asked if I felt intimidated by that number. I felt a supernatural peace from the Lord as soon as I started support raising, so I would usually laugh and say, “well, yes, but God asked me to do the Race, so I know he will provide, and I can always sell my car”. Then in April, God began to stir in my heart and I heard his voice asking me to give away my car. It didn’t feel like a command that if I chose to ignore, would result in walking in disobedience. But rather, it felt like an invitation to partner with God in how he wanted to bless someone. And in return how he would deepen my trust and dependency on him alone to provide financially. After a week of praying, I came into agreement with God about my car, and I began asking him who I should gift it to. I asked God three times and each time, he only brought one family to mind. It was a family I barely knew at the time and honestly, I had no idea if they needed a car. I asked God why he wanted me to gift it to them. He told me, “because they are my children, I see them, and I want to show them that I provide for them”. As I heard God speak those words, I felt the deep love of God for them. A few weeks later, I had dinner with that family and, through tears, shared that God had asked me to give them my car because he loves them. The mom of the family immediately started to weep. They shared how earlier that day they had been asking the Lord to encourage them and remind them of his fatherly love. There was such depth to their story and the connection with God asking me to give them my car. I left their house full of joy and gratitude that the Lord had invited me to partner with this blessing. The car felt so small in comparison to the encouragement and increase in faith I had received from spending time with this family.

As spring went by, I saw God slowly raise the financial support I needed. God taught me so much about why he created a church body. The individuals at my church encouraged me and partnered in believing that this was God’s calling for my life. I saw how a church body can truly look like Acts 4:32-37. “The believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.” I experienced multiple people placing cash directly into my hand. A friend sold her couch and donated the money, and another sold their jewelry collection. God has been stirring up a spirit of generosity, and through fundraising, I’ve been given a window to see it. I am deeply humbled and in awe of my community and their sacrificial generosity. 

Now, back to the family that God asked me to give away my car to. Because God added even more to that story. Two weeks ago, I was sitting in a coffee shop doing some planning for a fundraising event when I decided to pull up my giving dashboard and see how my goal was coming along. I pulled it up to see that a huge chunk of the remaining total had been donated by the family that I had given my car to. My eyes began to well up with tears. I immediately called the mom of the family to say thank you. I was in shock at their generosity. She answered my call with such love and shared how several weeks ago their daughter had been in an accident that totaled their car. As soon as it happened, they prayed and decided to donate the money they received from insurance for the damaged car. I was floored. Only God would be that creative to use a car for a car. He loves his children, and I was truly left in awe of his fatherly provision.

Just 10 days before leaving for the Race, I was left fully funded. God raised $21,500 in less than a year through cultivating a heart of generosity in his people for his work. To every one of you who donated money, THANK YOU. You are directly sowing into kingdom work. Each time the gospel is shared this next year on the Race YOU are a part of that. You have a direct connection with every person who accepts Christ, is healed through the power of the Holy Spirit, or is encouraged by our team this next year. I am in awe of your generosity, and I am so grateful to enter this journey in partnership. THANK YOU JESUS!

Grace

Photo of the family God asked me to give my car to.

*Shared with their permission.