Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: SPRING (09/03/20)
-
TITLE: Oroma Grace-Part 2 | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Lawrence
09/08/20 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Skepticism springs forth immediately at the mere mention of email from Kenya. Almost everyone’s assumption is I will be asked for money. To forestall such dependence I’ve tried to make clear to Grace what I believe is my role in her life and to voluntarily provide what is needed within that role—before I’m asked.
The specific part God has given me from afar is to feed her spiritually. I believe He has other ways in mind to feed her physically. I know He wants to be the One she asks for her “daily bread.” I hope and pray this belief is God-given and not fear of what others think or even of my own fear of Grace becoming dependent on me.
I suspect God intends Grace’s time in Kenya to be like Bible School—to learn He is the One who is her provider, to gain experience in letting her needs be known to Him, and to practice patience and trust. This could all be part of His preparing Grace for her goal of one day administering an orphanage or of being a social worker.
George Mueller’s stories of only letting his needs be made known to God when he was caring for 300 orphans, and experiencing God’s provision, inspire me. I sent these stories to Grace with the hope she will rest in her Father’s knowledge of her needs, and Jesus’ plea that she not worry since their Heavenly Father will care for her as He cares for the birds and flowers of the field.
I remember when I was in my 20’s and didn’t have money for necessities. A friend said she envied me because she saw me experiencing God providing in surprising ways. She didn’t have those kinds of experiences because her husband made plenty of money. Memories of these faith-building experiences of God’s provision can be invaluable when our supply of faith runs low.
Grace has been buying daily airtime in order to email from her phone and keep in touch with her grandmother and siblings in Uganda—and with me. She has run out of money. I researched and found I could purchase airtime for her phone through Paypal. That enables her to listen to her Ugandan pastor online, to receive from me stories like that of George Mueller, and for us to do Bible studies together, watching videos from the Bible Project.
Sending these emails of exhortation is a test of faith for me too. I’m tempted to fear our Father may not come through with what she needs. I have the means to help and I’m tempted to jump in and rescue her. But will I be getting in God’s way? Or am I simply protecting myself? I worry, even though I encourage Grace not to worry. Will God provide?
Yes!
My heart leapt with joy when I received this email from Grace:
I feel happy to share with you this good news. We have not been having water for a long time. And it has been hard for us to get water, but today, at night, when I woke up to go and urinate outside, I don't know what came to my mind but I tried to turn on the tap, and surprisingly, water was coming out of the tap.
I was so happy, I went and called Lucy, we then fetched all our Jerry cans and buckets and filled. Then we went and slept.
On waking up, we opened the tap again. There was no water. But we are so thankful to God that He has provided for us water, at least we won't buy or go to fetch far away. God is so good. This is a miracle to me.
Hope may not spring eternal. Days may go by when we hunger and thirst, skeptical of God’s knowledge of our needs. But in God’s inscrutable timing He brings to our mind when to turn on the tap. Springs of Living Water flow once again filling us anew with hope, and faith, and love, and thankfulness for the Wellspring of every good thing.
Grace and I may stumble in our faith at times, but together, we are practicing trust in the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
