Every now and then, something so unbelievable happens that it leaves my mind reeling and my spirit completely humbled. Not humiliated, humbled. Today was one of those days.

I pulled the stack of envelopes—mostly junk and flyers—from the mailbox. Quite a large stack for a Monday. A few bills. A yellow envelope with tickets to an upcoming fundraiser. A few ‘preapproved credit card’ offers. Yeah. Like anyone on planet earth needs those!

And then it caught my eye: A pretty envelope, a little angel in the bottom right hand corner, addressed in neat handwriting to our ministry, Faith Girls Unleashed. The envelope was quite fat, like it had a lengthy letter inside. Curious, I opened it before pulling away from the mailbox. Inside the envelope was a wad of papers, neatly folded. Maybe a story… I get those from time to time and it’s always an honour. Maybe a testimony of some amazing freedom experienced at a conference. I slipped the envelope back into the stack and headed for home This was no ‘road side’ read.

Immediately after I pulled into the driveway, I opened the envelope again. If it was a story or a testimony, the driveway would be the perfect spot to read it, away from the hullaballoo of five children and ‘life’. Unfolding the first bundle of papers, I discovered another neatly folded note containing a cheque. Amazing! I had not even started fundraising yet.

I read the note before I looked at the amount. It was from a young woman with whom I had been meeting with, from time to time, ever  since she attended a Faith Girls Unleashed conference. The note read:

Dear Trudy,

I know this isn’t much, but I am praying and believing God will multiply it supernaturally.

I want you to have this to go towards you need… for your next project.

Thank you so much for the work you are doing.

Lovingly,
(donor name)

As I read the note, tears started to fall, my hands trembled and my chest got that feeling of ‘fullness’ that comes when God whispers our name.

 Her cheque was a gift, an odd amount of $13.71. It was her investment into the ministry dream that God has given me—her seed of faith that God will open doors for the ministry go further, and touch more lives. In the memo line she had written: Isaiah 54:2. I looked up the verse and found this promise of provision and growth:

“Enlarge the place of your tent,
   stretch your tent curtains wide,
   do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
   strengthen your stakes.”

 Because of confidentiality, respect, and simply for her protection, I cannot share details of her story, but what I know is that she probably gave everything she has, almost literally, if not literally. I know the sacrifice her gift is.

It was only a few years ago that she fled a life of violence and abuse, to spare her own life, choosing life on the streets for some time, as a safer alternative. Now that she is healing, I see her reach out and bring the love of Jesus to other people in practical ways, even returning to the streets to let others know they are not forgotten. She struggles to make ends meet, still she gives generously.

The gift I received in the mail today touched me deeply, and is a reminder that God also gives generously, sacrificing heaven’s best for us. It inspires me to trust God’s plan, to have a young woman invest so generously into God’s call on my life, and believes this much in the ministry He is doing through us.   

I am humbled, honoured, blessed and encouraged, knowing that God doesn’t ask us to do what He has not already provided for. He goes before us and makes away—though He does not usually reveal it in advance—and then invites us to join Him in His dream for our lives, dreams that go beyond anything we could ever have hoped or imagined without Him. Our part is to listen to that inner voice–His voice–and move courageously into the unknown. And every once in a while, He sends us a note or a cheque, as a reminder that there is even more ahead.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a tent to extend, stakes to strengthen, and curtains to stretch… God has plans and I don’t want to miss out on the exciting next steps!