29Apr16

Exodus 14:15-16 ESV
The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.

There I was, huddled in a mass with my wife in my arms, crying because there was nothing else to do. I was a young youth pastor, newly married, barely graduated, newborn daughter in the room next door, working as a waiter at Red Robin and completely and utterly defeated. Despite everything I tried. Despite all the hours I worked. Despite all the things my wife did to bring in money. We were broke. We had no money. None. We didn't know how we were going to buy food. In front of me was a bill for an amount that seemed so impossibly far away from achievable. All I could do was sit there... defeated. Weeping.

Then we prayed.

We prayed because we knew that no matter how hard I tried. No matter how great the effort. I had failed and could not do this on my own. We prayed...hard.

Then there was a knock on the door. Right then. A knock. I almost didn't answer the door because I didn't want anyone to see me like this. I didn't want to admit my defeat to the world. But, I slowly got up and opened the door. Standing there was a man from our church. Not a great friend. Not someone we were particularly connected to. Not anyone that would know or even suspect our troubles. Mr. Curt Powers stood there with a huge smile on his face.

He didn't mince words. I just said, "God told me to come over and give this to you." He handed me an envelope, shook my hand, and walked back to his car.
I opened the envelope and burst into tears. There in my hand was a check for just the amount of money we needed for that bill that I was defeated over. God, through that obedient Christian man, had saved me from defeat. I will never forget that man and his family. I will never forget how when I was pressed against the red sea of my life, God parted the waters in front of me. He didn't give me more than I needed but, exactly what I needed.

What do you need today to get through your struggle? What is it that has you defeated? Call out to God, lift your head, and watch God work. Maybe God has called you to be the Curt Powers to someone else in your life. Obey. Because you never know when something small to you will mean the world to someone else. Do not despair. Do not give up.