Day 4 – Providence (Part 1)

Isn’t it amazing how God sprinkles His Providence in our lives? Ina shares her testimony with us.

“The year 2023 didn’t start well for my family and me. Health issues plagued us, and work situations worsened as the year progressed. Amidst it all, a friend promised a visit to The Netherlands, fulfilling one of my biggest dreams of travelling overseas, especially to Europe. Brushing it off as something unlikely for me, I woke up one morning to an email containing return air tickets for my son and me to The Netherlands. I was speechless and teary-eyed, feeling the enormity of the moment. Despite this good news, we faced major obstacles.

But on November 22, 2023, we stood at the airport, greeted by my other two kids and my best friend. We were finally taking off to Dubai for an 18-hour layover, adding another adventure to the one we had received six months earlier. To this day, I look at the photos to reassure myself that it wasn’t a dream.

Five years ago, my heart broke when I had to bid farewell to my dearest friend as they started a new life in a new country. Now, I stand in front of her, experiencing their new life. How blessed am I that my dear friend chose me to share this with!

This experience humbled me, making me understand that just as Jesus died on the cross for me, I can never repay that sacrifice. Similarly, my friend blessed us with an opportunity that I can never fully repay. To be loved so much that God sacrificed Himself for me to spend eternity with Him is comparable to my friend saving for a year to ensure we had the best time of our lives. Realizing I am special enough for Jesus to think of me, a selfish sinner, on the cross, and for a seldom-seen friend to include me in a special time, fills me with gratitude.

During each special moment and every night, before I closed my eyes, my prayers were, “Lord, may my other two children have experiences like this, and if it is Your will, let me experience it with them as well.” Every morning while I showered, I thanked God for living my dream and asked Him to bless the amazing people who provided this opportunity for us.

In all of this, the following verses stood out for me:

Mark 9:24 – “…I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Matthew 19:26 – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for showing us that Your Providence is already there without us realizing it. Your blessings are abundant. Please show these to us even in times when we feel we are going through something that does not look like a blessing. Allow us to see the beauty of You in everything. Amen.

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