Last week I mentioned that I was in the process of updating my family room with new curtains and an Americana theme through the summer. It has been a process. I didn’t like what I bought, so I returned the curtains and began the hunt for what I really envisioned for this room.

I wanted denim curtains. I found the perfect fabric and a great accompaniment fabric for valances. However, there wasn’t enough at all the stores for what I needed.

I gave up on this concept on several occasions since writing about it. I really figured it wasn’t going to happen this year.

But then an amazing thing happened. I found enough denim fabric in the color I wanted at my local Wal-Mart store. It was a big score.

Apparently at 9 a.m. however, there was no one to measure this fabric. So an area manager named Paul stepped in to help me. It was obvious he had never measured or cut fabric before. He knew what he was supposed to do, but he really had no idea how to go about it. In the end, I left with two bolts of fabric.

Manager Paul was out of his element.

I’m sure there some of our biblical friends felt the same way as manager Paul. God called them to a task that they were not prepared to accomplish.

Take Noah. “Build an ark,” God said. “Okay,” said Noah. And he did.

Or what about Moses? “Go get my people out of Egypt,” God said. “Okay,” said Moses. And he did.

Joshua. “Take the land,” God said. “Okay,” said Joshua. And he did.

There are many others. Like Gideon, Jonah, Hosea, King David, the Widow of Zarephath, Peter, Mary Magdalene, Lazarus, the blind man by the Pool of Bethsaida, Stephen, and Philip just to name a few.

And then there’s Mary. “Give birth to My Son,” God said. “Okay,” said Mary. And she did.

The Apostle Paul. “Take my message to the Gentiles,” God said. “Okay,” said Paul. And he did.

Jesus. “Offer my grace to the world through sacrifice,” God said. “Okay,” said Jesus. And He did.

How different life would be if any of these people had said “no” to God. But they all said “yes.”

When God called me to go to SE Asia last fall, I felt inadequate and unprepared. But it was this knowledge that made my experience exactly as God envisioned it. He was my Provider of everything for this trip. From the preparation to the financial, He had it covered. I simply needed to offer my willing heart. My role was to give Him the glory. He did the rest.

We each have the opportunity to say “yes” to God. Whatever it is He is asking of you, do it. You may feel inadequate and unprepared, but if God is calling you to it, He will be with you through it. He will provide all that you need, just as He did all of the previously mentioned biblical believers.

Philippians 4:13 (NIV) may be overused or even misused, but it still provides such encouragement to us in this world. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” This verse has offered encouragement to me to get through many situations. I pray it has for you as well.

Yes, manager Paul was out of his element, but he performed splendidly. I got what I wanted and he sold a large portion of fabric. I commend him for his diligence and his desire to help a customer. Thank you manager Paul!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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