God has given me many opportunities, over the years, to grow in the area of believing He is my provider.  There has been many days, of being on my face, waiting for the answers to come, and when it feels like time is running out. I have been blessed with lots of opportunity to trust the Lord.

I would like to share a story with you that I cherish and remember often…

God had led me early on, to study the life of George Muller, who was the Father of Orphans. George truly trusted and relied on God to meet every need.  God was asking me to lean on Him, go to Him, and seek Him for what we needed both at home and for Bridge of Hope. Plus,  I knew if I tried to build it in my own strength,  it would fail. So, if it’s His will, it was His bill.  I always went in prayer, asking for what was needed and watched Him provide, and continue to this day. Sometimes it was painfully uncomfortable and scary at times, but that is one area where my faith has been tested over the years, and strengthened.

A few years back, Bridge of Hope had no money in the bank account and rent was due the next day.
I was praying and seeking the Lord, reminding Him that rent is due. It was Sunday, and we went to church as usual.  We began to enter into praise and worship, when someone tapped me on the shoulder.  He said, “I have something for you. I cannot believe how much the Lord is asking me to give you, but here you go.” It was a check. I opened it right there because I knew right away, it was answered prayer to my desperate cries for rent.
It was the exact amount of the rent.  I looked up to heaven, raising my hands in total surrender and thankfulness!! God, you are too good. Thank you Jesus. Again, you have proven yourself faithful, and have shown me again, you are in this work. He then showed me a picture, that I continue to go back to, and draw strength and encouragement from.
It was a picture of me as a little girl about five. I was holding the hand of a very large, large, muscular, huge man.  I was reaching up as high as I could to keep hold of His big hand. The picture was of the back of us, walking down a narrow, desert path, going towards the city. It was dusk, and you could see the faint city lights ahead.  He said to me, “I got you. Just don’t let go of my hand.”  He showed me, that He has everything handled. I am just to stay holding on, and He will lead, guide, provide, protect and care for all the needs of my family, and Bridge of Hope. He had me. He is the watchman. He is the shepherd. He sees all things and knows all things. I don’t have to!!  Ha-ha! I don’t have to. He’s got it!! I can just be a child and trust my Father God who has all things in His hand, including me and my family.

Isn’t it funny, that as we grow older, our good shepherd wants us  to become more and more childlike. We have seen more, know more, have experienced more, but are to remain as little children- simply and purely believing God.