“His divine nature has given us everything we need…” As I taught the first days in that Middle Eastern land, it seemed apparent He was at work: the words I needed to teach those national women came easily, their eyes held mine, and the interaction between us was deep. Even my prayer that God would quiet the self-doubt which usually badgered me was answered. 

Then, a fever hit. Glued to my bed, I felt like someone had injected drops of molten lead into my previously unnoticed joints. That same molten lead seemed to swirl in my brain as I rehashed the wisdom of traveling for days on end to this land rife with sand, women in black, and illness. 

When I was finally well enough to move from the bed to a filthy couch, my soul’s position still didn’t budge. In fact, it felt lost in a tangle of swarming black fabric, as word came that a student with the same illness gasped for breath. 

It was only His grace that prompted me that day to sit upright, drink tasteless coffee, and meet with Him.  

“What is the point of this assignment, Lord?” I asked him feebly. “Does any of this make a difference?” 

I was weak, but His Word remained strong and oh, so sure. 

“Blessed.” “Chosen.” “Riches of His grace.” “Purposed.” “Inheritance” “Promise.” The guarantees in Ephesians pointed me to the reality of His light as clearly as the Mediterranean could be seen from my balcony. Though the noise of endless traffic bounced through the apartment walls, the kitchen cockroaches startled me, and my body longed to lie back down, His promises lifted my spirit beyond the corruption of this world. 

Yes, physically I was sick, but the flame of His promises broke through the swirl of gloom and opened a path to walk in Kingdom Light. 

Yes, He was still able to “give everything I need…”