"Your Deliverance Is Coming Today"

1 January 2012

It’s a small group of people gathered at my church on New Year’s Day. I am tired (I did stay up past midnight to welcome in the New Year after all), but my attention is caught by the speaker. He is telling stories of God’s miraculous provision. I know God still performs miracles but I never tire of hearing how He is working. I recognize that the message is apt as I am in the position of waiting on His provision to go overseas. My thoughts also turn to what will happen after I arrive. Then, as I sit there listening, a prayer comes to mind: “Lord, will you give me a story to share for every week I am overseas and then for every wedding I miss (the count is currently at six), may someone I know come to realize who You are.”

31 January 2012

Today was my planned departure date. I curl up on my sister’s sofa-bed reading through the book of Acts and praying. I am waiting. I’ve been waiting for over a week now for something to change. My passport was sent to the embassy for my visa and it has yet to return. My support has remained unchanged at 85%, so close but not enough. I still hold onto my faith in His provision but there is definitely a longing to just end the uncertainty and go. Then as I pray, this phrase springs to mind: Your deliverance is coming today. I know who the message is from and I immediately turn on my computer to check on the postal service tracking number for my passport’s return envelope as well as my support. Nothing has changed but in my email inbox there are at least 10 messages from people letting me know that they and those around them are praying. I am encouraged, but at the end of the day there is still no sign of what this deliverance might be.

1 February 2012

I am now in the kitchen with my sister drinking tea while she sends out a text message to her church and circle of friends asking for prayer regarding my visa and support. As she sends out the request to each group of people we hear a knocking on the door downstairs. Thinking it’s the neighbor I go downstairs to answer it. Instead of the neighbor it is the US Postal Service with an envelope from the embassy. I run up the stairs yelling, “It came! It came!” My passport with its visa had been sent last night from the embassy, though it did not show up in the postal service tracking system. My deliverance was coming last night but did not arrive until the morning. I sit down beside my sister again as she reads off at least 8 responses to her texts. In each is an assurance of prayer.

My lesson: This is not the result of just my prayers and faith in God’s provision. It is much bigger than that. It is the result of the prayers and faith of many.

So concludes the first of my weekly stories…