Bill Johnson said, “You get what you need for free and you pay for what you want!” It costs to follow what you believe God is calling you to, but it turns out what costs you, you didn’t need. My wife and I left our full-time career and followed what we believed the Lord calling us to. We left our comforts and security for a life of risk and faith. We went out on the ledge of Christian faith and jumped off. We have never lacked what we need, ever. When we needed it, the Lord has always been faithful at the right time with the right amount.
Once, while in Nicaragua, we needed $150, we had nothing and a man who was visiting from the US, stopped dead in the middle of his conversation with us and said: “You need money! The Holy Spirit just said I need to give you money! I need to give you $150!” – just when we needed it, we got it. I remember another time we had no food left, all but one thing of oats was left for our family of five and we planned on having that for breakfast and, as if by chance, a pastor called us from another town and offered to pay for our whole family to come stay there while we ministered in his church. The timing was perfect. In amongst the hungriest of people we found the most supernatural generosity. Time and time again we have seen God perform miraculous provision as we have followed Him. Even today I marvel as someone donated tires for our van just before we have to head to Edmonton, (a 3o hour drive in winter with bald tires) and another generous person from Yukon Bible Fellowship donated enough money for all the gas and another donated money for repairs. And before we left for the Yukon, someone felt lead to pay off our $20k debt! We are not getting rich following Jesus, but we are living rich following Jesus and lacking nothing. :)
Today as my hope was dropping, I am purposely remembering all that He has done, all He has provided. And today I can truly say, what we needed we got for free, but what we wanted we had to pay for. And what we paid with we didn’t need anyway, so there was no loss only gain. We wanted to go where He said go, we wanted to say what He said and it cost us all the false security and comforts we thought we needed. Although, in the moment, I miss the simplicity of a steady pay cheque and I am constantly challenged to remember His faithfulness, when I think about the big picture, I would trade it all again for the knowledge of His love demonstrated in His provision for us. I would gladly exchange my false comfort and security for the security and comfort of knowing that my God is able to do what He said He would do.
Even as I was writing this, another generous person from Yukon Bible Fellowship, donated more money to us for our trip. God is sooooo generous and knows what we need even before we ask for it. It felt like it cost a lot, but all it has really done has removed the dependency on things that we’ve realized we never really needed.
