Happy Box Day

The busy season has come and gone for us here at My Father’s World. As things shift from a rolling boil to a simmer, I find myself reflecting on the past few months. Although sometimes stressful, the busy season often feels like the time when I do the most for His Kingdom as an individual. If you’ve noticed, all package orders include a sleeve of assorted flyers, with the top one reading, “Happy Box Day,” and an inscription at the bottom that says, “I packed your order and prayed for your family,” followed by the signature of the person who packed the order. I really enjoyed doing this for the hundreds of families that came across my pick cart. It reminded me that behind each order number are real people with their own lives, facing unique struggles and in need of prayer—not only for the books they receive, but also for the hearts and minds of Christian families who are often under attack from the enemy.

Often, I am guilty of praying only when things have reached a low point or when I am in need. It’s a very human tendency, and often, when we’re panicking or looking for a way out, God has already paved the way. One of the most well-known Bible verses, Proverbs 3:5–6, makes this point abundantly clear: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” I recently went through a similar situation. I was overthinking and worrying too much about a particular issue, only to discover it had already been resolved and that my prayers had been answered. I have to admit that I felt a bit foolish and embarrassed for spending so much time stressing and not enough time trusting—trusting that God saw the way forward for me, and that I only needed to be patient.

The Lord’s timing can often be challenging to comprehend, and falling into doubt is all too easy. Taking matters into your own hands can often seem like the right thing to do. There are countless examples, from Abraham and Sarah, who did not wait for God’s promised child, to King Saul and David, who many times charged forward headstrong without explicit instructions from the Lord. Taking initiative isn’t necessarily bad. You should strive to do your best to solve problems and provide for those you care about, especially when you have a family to look out for. But in the same breath, make sure that hard work doesn’t come from a lack of faith in God to provide. “A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied” (Proverbs 13:4). “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).