When Tim approached me during my usual Wednesday afternoon shift asking if I would do him a favor I said, "Of course!"
Not even thinking it would be such a blessing in return. Tim asked me if I would go for a ride to the Clark gas station with a stranger not even a 1/2 mile down the road to buy $20 of gas for a woman. Tim reached into his wallet and gave me the money. Understanding that Tim was rightfully protecting him and his family by sending me, I excitedly, but nervously took my apron off and put the money in my pocket.
Tim explained to the woman who has 2 young children that I would take her. I had no idea the specifics of this mission, but I knew Tim was walking by faith. I noticed tears streaming down her face as I gave her a little hug. We got in the van and she told me how embarrassed she was to have all of her belongings crammed into her van. Her and her children were spending the night with different friends and relatives and sometimes in their van. It broke my heart at how hurt this woman was not only because of her living arrangements, but that she was frustrated for continuing to wish she could go back to the child's father who kicked her out.
She told me how he wasn't steady and didn't provide the things she wanted, but he was obviously the one she looked to for trust and loyalty. I quickly prayed that God would give me the words to comfort and show this woman how important it is that she trust and place her loyalty in God alone. I recently memorized Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."
This verse hit me hard when I realized what exactly it meant to me. Everyone in the world could and would fail me. But I know that Jesus Christ was, and always is, consistent in my life. Whether I give him 100% or 5%. I tried my best to show her how she can't keep trying to trust and pursue this man when she has the perfect man there for her every second of everyday. God will provide more than the man she thought had all the answers she could dream of or imagine.
I told her how I struggle everyday with trusting that God will provide. She slowly calmed down, and we drove to the gas station.
God put the gas in her car yesterday. And I tried right there to show her how God has entrusted Tim with the burden of Medina. That Tim has a wife and a daughter and he gives his time and money to anyone who needs it at the cafe. I watched him several times take care of people today and every other day by giving of himself.
I tried so hard to recall 18 years of church lessons and the one I came up with is that I believe God has entrusted Tim with all that he has because he realizes that the money he has, the car he has, the home, and time he has is ALL GOD'S!!!! I think right then it hit her that Tim wasn't rich, but Tim was FAR from poor.
He knows what is important and is grateful for what he has. I explained to her how missionaries get there money, and I believe she was much more grateful for the $20 in gas. This also taught me a lesson I will remember for years to come. And it's exactly what I had to tell her. The lesson that God will always be the constant variable in my experiment of a life. God is in control and will protect me and those I care about.
I've never had the opportunity to use scripture in witness like this, and it's so encouraging to memorize God's word because God just overwhelmed me with a feeling of accomplishment and the feeling that He, my Heavenly Father, was proud of me. And that He is in complete control, not me.
--Crystal