When Gina Bauer visited our parish for the Advent Parish Mission, she shared a powerful message. “The Lord is great. And while He certainly wants all our requests – big and small – He might be growing tired of the limits we put on our requests. He is a great big God who can take our great big prayers.”

My brain translated this into we sometimes act like someone nervously asking a billionaire for five dollars.

(Now...I share the following only with the intention of giving glory to God and thus, spreading faith in Him.)

After hearing her say this, I sought her out for a conversation. She quizzed me for quite some time before saying the following: “So you and your wife worked incredibly hard to eliminate your college and vehicle debts within years. Then, through two failed adoptions, one reversed adoption, and – finally – the successful adoption of your daughter Georgiana, you find yourself back in significant debt?”

“Correct,” I responded.

“And you aren’t spending irresponsibly. You don’t have cable. You are a single car family. You maintain a tight budget.”

“Correct,” I said again.

“In Psalm 68:5, God refers to himself as the father of the fatherless. So, as I see it, through adoption efforts, you have been doing His work. With the exception of what you owe on your home, this is His debt! In prayer, tell Him it is His debt. You will continue being financially responsible, but you are done letting it worry you. Then, continue doing His work.”

I have to be honest. It made me nervous to pray such a big prayer. Our accrued adoption debt was “significant.” But I’d promised Gina I’d do it. And I did.

After praying this prayer for about a month, to my amazement, half our significant debt was taken care of. All glory be to God!

Again, I share this humbling and very personal testimony to encourage you. Let’s be about the work the Lord has set before us (big and small) and continue to bring Him our needs (big and small). He is big enough for them.

Questions? Comments? Email David at dlins@oloj.org.

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