Trust and Obey

When I left college, I was living in a Christian campus ministry house where the offices were located and part of the staff lived. Because I was on staff, I paid almost no rent, and therefore didn’t need a high-paying job, since I was not close to starting my career yet – those years between leaving college and actually moving into your chosen career. Sometimes you take work where you can find it. I had a part-time job in retail that paid enough for my expenses, which were few, and gave me spending money. 

During those years, I had the blessing of meeting an Israeli woman who had become a believer in Yeshua and had a powerful testimony. She had moved to Raleigh with her daughter. I love Jewish-Israeli music and she helped me learn some praise songs and in return I had the privilege of accompanying her when she would share her testimony at various gatherings. 

One Sunday, she was invited to give her testimony at a United Methodist church in a nearby city for an adult Sunday School class. I accompanied her as she sang some songs in Hebrew and then listened as she shared her story with the rest of those gathered. We had two others with us that day and I was the driver of her car, as she preferred to have someone else drive when possible.   

After the Sunday School class, we decided to go to the 10:30 service at the nearby Assembly of God, which we had heard very good things about. The Holy Spirit was allowed to move freely during the praise & worship time, and the message resonated in my spirit. When the time came to receive the tithes and offering, I was wondering what I should give. I had $5 remaining in my account until the next pay day, a week away. As I was seeking the Lord on what give, I was strongly impressed to give the $5 I had in my wallet. I remember thinking I should – but could I? And by God’s grace, I was able to trust the Lord that He would supply my needs – I didn’t know how, but I put all I had left in the offering basket, and I really didn’t think much more about it. 

So after the service, we headed back to Raleigh, talking about how God had ministered to us and through us that day. As I was driving, the lady reached over and put some money in my shirt pocket for driving and playing for her. When I pulled it out it was $20!

An old hymn comes to mind when I think about what happened that day:

When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His word,

What a glory He sheds on the way.

When we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And to all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus – but to trust and obey. 

When He directs us to do something that seems hard or impossible for us to do, and we simply trust Him and do it, we always are blessed. Trust and obey.