A Leap Of Faith

by Rita Langeland

Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe.
St. Augustine

After losing her high-paying, high stress job in a company merger, Nancy battled fear over her financial future. Her husband also worked in an industry which had been hard hit by the country’s economic downturn and rumors of downsizing were rife at his company as well. After looking for a job for many months, she decided to start her own consulting firm, doing work in the same industry she had left. With more time to devote to her two young children, the change was a breath of fresh air. But it left her very dependent on God to bring business her way in order to help keep the family finances afloat.

Such a season in a person’s life may not appear to the logical mind to be a good time to start giving money away. But that is the Biblical way of doing things, and that is exactly what this couple decided to do. Having a heart for the orphans at Treasures of Africa, they made a decision to become monthly sponsors for one of the children at TOA in the middle of their own financial turmoil. Nancy wrote the following note when she informed me of their decision.

“We are going to send you a check for the full year of child sponsorship now - $1200. I told my husband that we needed to make this leap of faith that God would help make my business successful to sustain us next year. So here we go. I know that God has given me a phenomenal opportunity to see my life in a completely special way this year. As scary as it is sometimes, I am happier than I have ever been. I know this must be what He had in mind.”

Another young couple, Tom and Anne , are faithful givers to their local church where Tom volunteers as a leader in the worship ministry. Anne is a stay at home mom caring for their small children and is a dedicated intercessor for Hidden With Christ Ministries. They felt impressed by God to add support of Operation Lazarus to their budget and began faithfully donating monthly two years ago. Recently, the couple felt led to increase their giving and Anne wrote the following to explain:

“I was praying for you guys a few weeks ago, and I felt convicted that I needed to talk to Tom about raising our monthly donation by just $15 a month. It’s only a little money and it’s designated to Operation Lazarus… But I just felt convicted that maybe that small step on our part was important in the spiritual realm. I talked to him, and I changed the bill pay info for our monthly donation. It’s interesting to me that our first increased monthly donation came out of our account yesterday, the same day that the HWCM got some financial breakthrough. (note: she was responding to an email I had written to our intercessors) Please let me make it clear, I’m not taking credit for the breakthrough… God orchestrated all of that! But I am touched that God gave us a SMALL step of faith to take, and He honored that.”

Both of these couples took a leap of faith in the area of financial giving. People who walk by faith trust God for the end result when they choose to obey the leading of His Spirit. Neither of them will be disappointed! Jeremiah 17:7-8 promises this:

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Prayerfully consider what “Leap of Faith” God wants you to take this coming year. Then take the jump! God will not disappoint you. Instead, you will experience a fruitfulness in your life that will not cease!

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I have tried to keep things in my hands and lost them all,
but what I have given into God’s hands I still possess.
Martin Luther

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FAITH CORNER Copyright 2008-2009 © Rita Langeland. 'FAITH CORNER' articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provision: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each story, along with a link to http://www.hiddenwithchrist.com/written/index.htm