As I started out this week, I got the feeling that it was going to be long. I don't mean that one day would be rough and I would wake up on Wednesday and be fine. All week long was a perpetual struggle. Why? Because comparisons are awful.
Early in the week I received a text from a fellow Goer in my cohort who was excited to share that they had reached 25% of their goal. This was AMAZING news, and I am so glad that he is pursuing and reaching the goals God has set before us for fundraising. However, I couldn't help but stop the nagging feeling that my 19% wasn't good enough. I had been working tirelessly to set up appointments, make phone calls, and juggle a healthy work-life balance. I didn't understand why God was holding back results from my hard work.
Then it hit me. This isn't about me failing. This is God teaching me something important. Early on in the summer as we started reading The God Ask by Steve Shadrach, I was committed to KILLING IT in support raising. I was going to work so hard and be so incredibly diligent that I would get all my support raised in TWO months instead of the three they allot for us. I wanted to glorify and serve God, and that’s the best way I knew how.
In hindsight, this was an inappropriate approach. This week I learned that God does not work on my timeline. Although I’m trying SO HARD, there is a greater lesson here: Patience. God reminded me yet again that I am absolutely atrocious about being patient (just ask my parents they have plenty of stories from when I was young). This brings me back to my life verse: Romans 12:12- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
As I look forward to this upcoming week with less meetings, I have a couple of reminders for myself (and all my fellow Goers raising support).
- God is pleased with any and all work you do for Him in His name. Your results or lack of results are not a reflection of His being glorified.
- Patience is key. Everyone’s support raising journey is different, and we have to respect those differences.
- Comparison is not going to help if it only drags you down. If you find it beneficial to encourage and push yourself to work harder, by all means, keep yourself accountable to another Goer. But if it slows you down and makes you wonder why you’re trying so hard, keep your eyes focused on God and his goodness. Trust in Him and be patient.
Prayer requests for this month:
-Clear medical test results and getting all my vaccines done!
-Reach 50% of my support raising goals by October 21st.
-People who have committed to giving, will put their donations in.
-The team currently in North Africa will be encouraged.
-All those affected by the drought in East Africa.
Love & Blessings,
Eden