Someone I dearly love asked me some fair questions today, "How do you know for sure God has called you to Ireland?" and, "Why so you need so much money? Isn't that too much to raise?"
I'll admit that for a second my mind screamed, "Yes! That is too much money- we'll never be able to raise that! Perhaps we are suppose to just stay here..."
But only for a second.
I then explained all the times God has proven to us again and again (because we needed the comforting reminder) that we are to go to Dublin. How for years, He has been grooming us to trust our finances and needs to Him. He has proven over and over that this is His economy, He knows our needs, He is our provider, and we are to follow His leading.
Then I got off the phone and ran straight to my Bible.
I've been reading through John lately, so decided to just pick up where I left off. It was John 6:4-14: The feeding of the 5000. It never ceases to amaze me how God uses His Word to speak to us and how the Spirit highlights so vibrantly our lessons, comfort and confirmation.
"...He asked Philip, 'Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?' He asked this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do." vs. 5b-6
I firmly believe God had this person ask me these difficult questions to remind us we know what we know. God knows what He has called us to do and how He will provide. But He hasn't fully yet. Those disciples had a few loaves and fish, but "what are they for so many?" v. 9. We have 18%, but what is that when you need 100%?
"Then Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down.'"
The stepping out in faith comes in right there - Telling 5000 men, plus women and children, to sit down so they could be fed. With what? They didn't know till they started passing it out.
And they had a lot of leftovers.
I promise we will be faithful to God with our leftovers.
Why is all this so important? Verse 14
"When the people saw the sign He has done, they said, "This really is the Prophet who has come into the world!'"
So we can give all the glory to Him and peoples will recognize He is the One who has come into the world for them!
So go ahead. Ask the hard questions. We will be honored to step out on faith, explain what we can, and show you.
