Provision
“This is exactly the one I used to have,” I mused, looking wistfully at the car in the carpark of my new workplace. I would see this car every morning when I went to work. “Did I make the right decision?” I questioned as I swallowed a knot in my throat. I used to be a manager, and a car (and petrol) was part of my pay package. The convenience of having a car was precious to me. With this change in job, I was doing away with that convenience.
Two years ago, I began looking for a more community-centered job. I found my previous job meaningless and wanted to do something different. I started praying, and I whispered to God, “Anything but full-time ministry.” The turning point came in August when God broke through the silence and asked,“Do you love me a lot?” I was taken aback yet touched by His voice. I knew that it was God calling me to serve Him in a full-time capacity. Opening my heart and mind, I responded in obedience to His call. I knew deeply in my heart that God could not be wrong.
However, transiting into my new job was not easy. The workload, working hours and responsibilities were different from what I was used to. I found it hard to adjust, but I refused to cave in to stress because I knew that God placed me here for His purpose. I prayed for strength to be an overcomer in Christ, determined to work through the obstacles. God is marvelous! Daily, He assured me of His call, affirmed my decision, and never once gave up on me. As I responded in faith, God assured me that He would provide for my every need, even beyond my wildest imagination.
Weeks passed, and I realized that as I turned my eyes upon Jesus and His promise of providence, I was no longer looking out for that car at the carpark. Then, God orchestrated something amazing. A couple was migrating overseas, and having known about how I “gave up” my car to enter full-time ministry, they felt led to offer me a blessing – their car. It was beyond what my mind could comprehend. But I was worried about not being able to cope with the cost of maintaining a car, and hence declined the offer.
During the church camp, the couple again persuaded me to consider taking up their offer. They told me that God will definitely provide for me. Faith welled up within me as I recounted the many times God had graciously provided in my life. I remembered there was a time when our family needed a new coffee table and God provided us with a new one through a friend. This was just one example of His mind-blowing generosity. Time and again, God always assured me that in Him, I would have no lack. With renewed courage, I took a step of faith to receive the car from this couple, trusting that God would work all things - including the finances - out for me.
Through these events, I learnt an important lesson: obedience is the key to unlocking God’s providence. When we respond in obedience, God will bless and take care of us. We can never out-give God. When I made the decision to take on the new job in faith, I could trust Him to lead and provide. He is good and always will be. When you have a need, never be afraid to ask God and to obey Him. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
Read the full article on Page 24, Trinitarian Magazine Issue 3/2014