Coming into Training Camp, I had only “met” my teammates through biographies on the team blog and checking them out on Facebook. Through that, I was really excited about meeting each girl, learning about them, and working alongside of them for the glory of God’s Kingdom this summer in India. However, as I was flying to Training Camp, I got super nervous. The typical questions of humanity raced through my mind: Will they like me? Will we get along? Will I click with them? Will we be unified?
On top of all of those emotional questions, I had one big question: Will they let me borrow their clothes and toothpaste?! See, my luggage did not arrive with me. When I left Dallas early Friday morning, the airlines would not allow me to check my luggage because I was one minute past the cut-off time to check luggage. I thought there was no way I could survive this weekend without my things!
I spent all of Friday morning wondering how I would live without my bag and how my teammates would react. I was so nervous. As sisters in Christ, I figured they would let me borrow things, but what I really longed for was a deep sincerity when offering me their shampoo. The Lord definitely worked mightily through my teammates by how willing and generous each one was to making sure I had clothes each day and smelled somewhat decent.
It is so difficult for me to fully rely upon other people. Yet during the first day of leaving home for the summer, God literally stripped everything away except what was in my backpack, forcing me to depend on my teammates. In a very strong and tangible way, I experienced the body of Christ this weekend. The Lord provided for me beyond what I truly needed, all the way down to a brand new toothbrush. This weekend was such a beautiful reminder of how God provides everything we need, regardless if we are comfortable with the way His provision manifests itself in our lives.
His provision reminds me of the story of Abraham’s obedience and willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham trusted that the Lord would provide the animal for the offering. When Isaac asked where the lamb was, Abraham replied by saying, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). Right before Abraham killed Isaac, the Lord provided a way for Abraham to not sacrifice Isaac; there was a ram caught nearby. What a precious foreshadow of how God provided Jesus to atone for our sins, knowing that it is through faith that we can take hold of His provision!
I never thought I would be reminded so deeply of how critical it is for the body of Christ to be there for each other. It is through that support that I was able to trust in the Lord’s provision, and I am beyond thankful for this lesson! I am so incredibly blessed by my sisters on my team for how willing they have been to be Christ to me by supplying my needs this weekend with loving and gracious hearts.
