Let God fill the gap

Most of my posts on here deal with how I'm learning to see my relationship with God through my relationship with my kids. This one, however, stems from a conversation I had with a friend this evening.

This friend was talking about how she feels that she and her family are supposed to go on a missions trip. They are even feeling called to a specific country. Yet, they haven't made a commitment because of money. Now, the worldly, logical answer would be to save up until they could afford it. But, the Godly, sometimes crazy seeming answer would be to commit to going then let God take care of providing the money. I told her about when I felt called to going to Haiti last year, I didn't have the money. But I stepped out in faith and committed to go. When all was said and done over 3/4 of my trip was paid for by donations from others. I told her, "You can't base your decision on what you're willing to cover just in case God doesn't step in. That's limiting God."

As I drove home, I started thinking about this. I mean, really, how many times do I limit God's ability to work in my life? If I'm going to live out my Christian faith in it's purest form, shouldn't all my "major" decisions require God to fill a gap that I can't fill myself?

Sure, there are the financial decisions. Like when we bought our house. After much prayer we felt it was the right house for us. Did we have the money? No. But we felt this was where we were supposed to be. So we put in a bid - the same day someone else also turned in a big for a higher rate. Yet, the homeowner chose our bid - even though they could have made more money with the other offer. We saw God's hand at work.

But there are also emotional decisions. The easiest example is marriage. Marriage, no matter what the world tells you, is not 50/50. It's 100/100. Talk about a leap of faith to give all of yourself to another, fallible human being. Even after almost 13 years of marriage, I have to step out in faith that God will fill the gap when my husband doesn't give 100% of himself to me. Just like Keith has to step out in faith in regards to me. Neither of us is perfect. But God is. When we step out and say, "God, I know things aren't good with Keith/Naomi right now. But I will step out and give all of myself to them. I know they may not see it or respond favorably to it, but I know that you will fill that gap in my heart. You will fill that gap in our relationship. Your presence there will draw us closer to one another. And even if the other person never changes, your grace is sufficient for me."

Hard to do? You bet.

Worth it? Oh yes!

If all your decisions are based on what you can do or what you can handle, your faith will never grow. You are limiting God's work in your life. I have never been more amazed by God than when I've taken that step and felt His hand holding me up. Try it. He just might blow you mind!