Philippians 4:19 (a
very familiar verse) says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to
his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Does God really supply all my needs? Does He really take care
of my life the way He has promised? Yes!
A few days ago, here at PAFCOE, we witnessed this promise of God coming
true for one of our students.
Vera* joined PAFCOE
right after she finished the 1,000 Missionary Training program and was excited
to learn more about how to work for God. As with most of our students, she had
no money, no sponsor and no possibility of getting the necessary funds to pay
her expenses here at PAFCOE.
So what should she
do?
Every day, Vera prayed
earnestly for God to provide for her expenses. As she listened to the lectures,
participated in outreach and did her assignments, this problem of no money
weighed on her like a heavy burden from which there was no relief. Vera found it hard to concentrate in class,
because she was so occupied in thinking about how she could do something to get
the money she so desperately needed.
Of course, she knew
this promise (Philippians 4:19), but would God actually fulfill it for her?
Yes, He did! He who reigns in the heaven
and upholds all the worlds, cared for even Vera and provided a way to pay for
her expenses. This is how:
Last Friday night,
Vera, her classmates, and we staff gathered in the church for the vespers
service. The speaker for the sermon that night was an Adventist Doctor who
specializes in kidney transplant and was the first Adventist Doctor in his
field.
After the meeting, I
noticed that Vera was happily talking to the Doctor and having a great
conversation with him. I could tell that she was obviously delighted to see him
and assumed that they were friends. As everyone began to leave, the Doctor and
Vera came our direction and he said to me, “Do you know Vera?”
I said, “Yes, Of
course! She’s one of our students.”
He smiled and said,
“Well, she was one of my high school classmates and I’ve decided to sponsor her
tuition at PAFCOE.”
Then Vera spoke up and
said how surprised she was to see him, since they had not met since their
graduation and now God brought them together again and provided through her old
classmate, a way for her to continue studying here at PAFCOE!
Vera thanked God over
and over again and said that now she would be able to concentrate fully on her
studies and lectures as the heavy burden of not having financial assistance was
lifted from her. We were all touched at how God really does provide for all our needs – in ways we never even thought of!
Praise God for caring
about us!
*Not her real name.
