When God Matches Wanting People with Willing People

So I’m here! 

I made it YWAM Orlando for my SOMD (School Of Ministry Development). Yesterday was my full first day here and I can already tell its going to be a great semester. We have spent the first few days going over what the next few months will look like, and getting to know the students and staff in my school, as well as my seven new roommates. But I wanted to tell you about how God was working in and through us even before we reached the campus just three days ago. 

So me and my crazy friends decided it would be fun to do a road trip across America from California to get to our school in Florida. It was a long, crazy, tiring, and fun few days, but God orchestrated something on that first day that I will never forget.  

After driving all day, we were just a few hours from crossing the boarder into Arizona on I-40 when we lost our back right tire. My friend Josh pulled over safely and discovered the tire shredded from the weight of our luggage and probably from all the snacks. I mean, you can’t have a road trip without an ample supply of peanut butter M&M’s. Obviously. 

So Josh quickly put the spare tire on and we got back on the road. We didn’t make it 20 feet before the rear tire went completely flat. So Josh called AAA and after about 3 hours, our tow-truck driver filled our tire and then gave us a lift to the next town with a tire repair shop in case we needed a new tire. This is when we realized this was no accident.

Jonathyn, one of the students in my SOMD, sat up front to chat with our tow-truck driver, Tim. One thing that I know about our team is that there is one thing we can’t help but talk about; and that is Jesus. Knowing this, Zoe and I started praying for Tim and Jonathyn’s conversation immediately. We prayed that Jonathyn could clearly communicate the words God was giving Him, and that Tim’s heart would be all ripe and mushy to listen to the Holy Spirit’s tug. 

After listening to Tim talk about his life and work for a while we realized that he believed in God and he prayed, but he didn’t understand how personal our God really is. Jonathyn started to explain to Tim how personal and intimate his relationship with God is, and how the Holy Spirit speaks and works in his life, as well as the weight of Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross and what that meant for Jonathyn’s goal and motivation in this life on earth. 

Tim listened with eager ears, leaning in to every word Jonathyn was saying. When Jonathyn began spilling from his heart his passion about Jesus, Tim took his hat off and began tearing up. “Do you want a relationship with God like what I’ve been describing to you?” Jonathyn asked. Tim replied with a faint and emotional, “Yes.” Jonathyn continued to speak words of life and encouragement over Tim and prayed for him several times before our hour and a half tow ride was over. I sat in the back seat amazed and in awe by how God works, it was so clear that He had ripened the harvest for us and that He placed us there as willing workers to watch God draw in His son, Tim. 

We made it to our repair shop and Tim unhooked our car. His eyes were red and watery and you could tell his heart was overwhelmed and speechless from the love of Jesus. We knew Tim would’t be the same after this. We said goodbye and got back into our car, full of joy from the opportunity we just had to be the love of Jesus to this 22-year old tow-truck driver.  

This is exactly why I’m obeying God by coming to Orlando, Florida to do my SOMD. For these exact moments. Living for Jesus is a lifestyle of servanthood and willingness to speak up about this amazing God we serve, and right now I’m serving and learning in the amazing environment that is Youth With A Mission. But that’s not the end of the story.

After we were dropped off, we realized the tire shop was closed and wouldn’t open until the next morning, so as we were weighing our limited options we felt peace about continuing to drive the car, as least until the next town to see if another repair shop would be open. We ended up driving it the rest of the way to Florida, checking the tire pressure every few hours to make sure it was holding up, and it was TOTALLY FINE. Our spare ended up holding up better than the other three tires! 

I am convinced that God pulled us into that moment with Tim on purpose. There was Tim, getting ready for another tow call, knowing God exists, but not understanding how LOVED he is by his Heavenly Father, or the PURPOSE that God has given him, but wanting truth desperately. And there was us, tired and slightly annoyed by the inconvenience of the tire incident, but willing to obey with the passion and love for Jesus and God’s children on the tip of our tongues. And there God made a match; of the wanting and the willing.

I’m so humbled that God would pull us out to be apart of His heart for all people. You guys, God is drawing ALL people to Himself: millionaires, bankers, stay-at-home moms, families in foreign countries, and tow-truck drivers. He wants us to be apart of it, and that blows my mind. 

I also learned that Jesus is pretty amazing at repairing flat tires. ;) To Him be the glory!!

If you would like to be apart of my journey through my prayer email chain you can contact me here: sacree01@gmail.com

If you would like to join my support team and help me financially through this season you can donate here. 

Payment for a student/Winter SOMD/2016