My life, especially recently, is full
of answered prayer.
I married my husband as an answer to
prayer. (The part of me that is home to the “class clown” is
saying, “What was I thinking???”) But the reality is that 21
years ago, after a history of failed relationships where I had played
chameleon to please the boyfriend du jour, I pleaded with Abba YHVH
to guide my love life. I had failed miserably. I couldn't trust my
own judgment in this area of my life, that was clear. I needed Him to
take over. And He did. I met “Mr. Wonderful” AKA “he who
must be tolerated” (depends on which day) just a week after I
prayed that prayer. We met in the parking lot of the Christian radio
station where I volunteered as a prayer partner. We've been together
ever since.
A few months ago, I asked Abba for help
during Sukkot / the Feast of Tabernacles. If things worked out as I
anticipated, I would be cooking for 300 people for eight days ... and
those who had helped me in the past had moved away, one family to
Wyoming, another to Arizona. Those of our congregation who would be
attending the feast had deterrents to kitchen duty of their own: tiny
newborns, farm animals that would require their attention, illnesses,
injuries ... It did not look good. But “I lift my eyes to the
hills from where my help comes.” (Ps. 121:1) I know my Creator,
Redeemer, Bridegroom and Sovereign “did not give me a spirit of
fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.” (2Tim 1:7) I also kept
my concerns to myself, I did not want to face the barrage of
questions about how I was going to pull this all off. The truth is,
I wasn't going to do anything. YHVH was. And He did.
Early in September, I got an email from
someone who offered to leave their home for a month and essentially
join herself to my hip and help in whatever way possible. I have had
help in the past that got upset when I did not say 'please' and
'thank you' at every request. I'm not mean ... but I do get stressed
and I get terse. So, I was a bit skeptical at her very gracious
offer. I needed someone I could work with. As Yah would have it, she
was not deterred by the tepid response I gave at the time. And so
she essentially moved in during the first week in September. We
baked banana bread, carrot-pineapple bread; we made carrot juice and
meatloaf. We chopped; we diced; we measured and re-calculated. She
was wonderful ... and we were doing all things through Messiah who
strengthened us. (Phil. 4:13) I was giddy with delight.
On the erev Shabbat / f'day before the
feast started, we had another case of 10 pounds of events wedged into
a 5 pound bag of a day. The rental RVs for the speakers had to be
picked up in Gainesville (45 miles away, thus a 3 hour project) and
the grocery truck bearing $7000 worth of groceries was arriving on
that same day. Both projects were slated to be handled by the same
men. Our Father's sense of timing – and comedy – is impeccable!
As the guys who picked up the RVs returned to Lake City they drove
past the truck bearing the groceries. They pulled into the driveway
at our shul seconds before the truck did. They parked the RVs and
then scrambled like ants at a picnic toting hundreds of boxes of food
and supplies. Inside, the queens of cuisine checked the items off
the list and loaded groceries onto shelves. We went into Shabbat
tired, but with a great sense of victory and peace.
And just for the record, all 271 souls
who signed up did not show. Although we had cooked for 300, “only”
200 arrived. This means lots of leftovers. I now know a half dozen
ways to serve left over meatloaf. Let's hear it for the spaghetti
with meat sauce and Tater Tot casserole!
The bottom line seems to be that
worrying would have been a huge waste of energy! Abba made sure that
I had help, that the food was served hot and on time every day and
there was enough to share with the clients of the local soup kitchen
... and the best bonus of all, I emerged without being totally
exhausted!! Our Sovereign is good beyond description!! HalleluYah!
So, all I can say is, “Trust Him.”
He knows what you need far better than you do and will move heaven
and earth to empower you when you seek to do things His way.
May it be for a blessing ...
Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the
Name of the Prince of Peace --
Yocheved
