As most of you know, I have been in a serious transition in my life. This transition has stretched my faith in God in ways that I could not imagine. This has not been a bad thing. I myself always want to see my true nature when trusting God. I would love to say that I past this test with flying colors but that would be a lie. However, I did discover that my reliance on God never changes and in the most unsecure times of my life, God is there every step of the way. It has been evident through this whole process. I went from asking God in April, why is this happening to thanking God in August for allowing me to be found faithful and providing for my family in the incredible way that He has. A passage of scripture has been at the forefront of my life during this new stage. Matthew 6:25-34 NIV reads:

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God is faithful in providing for His children. How can a believer ever doubt God’s providence after reading this passage? That’s an easy answer. For me, I doubted because I like to control things. I like to do things in my own power. When that occurs, it effects my relationship with God, my family, and those I’m around. This is not God’s design for us. He delights when we completely rely on Him. He wants to know our needs. He wants to comfort us in our sorrows. He wants to rejoice with us in our victories. This happens when we realize that “seeking first God’s kingdom” means His guidance and strength is what gets us through the happy and hard times of our life. Only then will a believer truly see God’s faithfulness. It’s been a hard lesson to learn (Maybe it’s because I learn things the hard way), but it has taught me to rely on God for every single aspect of my life.

When my six month period to search for a new church began in April, all I saw was my house being foreclosed on because of the economy. In addition, I saw the difficulty to find a new place of ministry because of my age (most churches want a young youth pastor instead of an older one). I had some debt that was gnawing at me. But the biggest concern was how this change would effect my family. God was faithful. When we listed our house the second week of June and we had an offer in nine days (we closed August 5). On September 11, Tabernacle Baptist Church in New Bern, North Carolina extended a call for me to become their new Youth and Young Adults pastor at which I accepted. A day later, God provided the perfect house for us to rent that fit our budget. My family and I have seen God do amazing things during this transition. I want to encourage you to see the amazing things that God is doing in your life. Write them down. Have a time of praise to God over these things. After all they are evidence of God’s faithfulness. God bless!