Tools for Fall

"God uses [scripture] to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."  

-2 Timothy 3:16
 

I recently resumed working at Hobby Lobby after an 11-month hiatus. Eager to assure my manager that I still remember how to do my job, I jumped at the chance to do a small “special” project.

“Go print off some sale signs for the fall end caps and put them up,” she directed.

I strode briskly to the break room, where I knew black and white sale signs lounged, waiting to be copied onto colorful paper and planted around the sales floor.

I scoured the sign pile. Christmas, Christmas Floral, Beads, Halloween, Paint Sets, Wooden Letters. The Fall sign had evidently executed an elaborate escape plan. I sighed in frustration. Why would she tell me to do something and then not give me the tools to do it? I grumbled internally.

Perhaps it’s in the office, a hopeful thought chirped, so I embarked on a fruitless scan of possible hiding places. I eventually left, slunched over in my not-able-to-prove-my-awesomeness anger.

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I have known for some months now that God is calling me back to teach in Asia. The cost to go with my company is significantly higher than any amount I have raised before, and it intimidates me, like Goliath. Since I have forgotten God’s immeasurable resources, I scrounge around where I found the money last time. I’m sure it was around my church somewhere. But this time my church is smaller, and many of the relationships I depended on are gone.

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I found my manager and told her about the missing signs. “Really, they weren’t in the break room?” she wondered. “Well, I’ll just have to print up some more.”

Five minutes later, a neat stack of colorfully copied signs—proclaiming cheap prices for autumn wreaths, candles, centerpieces, and more—sat patiently at my work station. She’d even thoughtfully placed scotch tape with them.

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God, I’m sorry I don’t trust you, I confess. If you want me to follow you to Asia in this way, You’ve promised to take care of my needs, including the ones with dollar signs. Forgive me for not trusting you as much as I trust my Hobby Lobby manager. How utterly ridiculous of me!

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Has God called you to something hard? Remember that as His slave, you have the right to ask for and expect Him to provide what you need to get the job done. He delights in providing in ways that you could never plan!