Photo courtesy of Stephen Clarkson.

We hope you enjoy this re-post from January 26, 2014. Be blessed! The Today’s Quote From God Team

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. – Philippians 4:6, Amplified Bible (AMP)

Evangelist Mike Washer and his National Hoops Ministries team were en route to El Paso, Texas when his truck went into cardiac arrest. Sputtering and spitting, Old Faithful limped along just far enough for the team to reach its destination before giving up the ghost. The sum of $1,500 was needed to repair the truck’s engine, and that sum was $1,500 more than the team had to spend.

For the four days they were in El Paso, Pastor Mike and his team conducted their signature 3-on-3 basketball tournament aimed at winning teenagers to Christ. During those four days, The Lord blessed mightily, and souls were saved. Also during those four days, the team prayed fervently for God to provide the needed $1,500, for if He didn’t, the team would be stranded. Choosing not to let anyone outside of the evangelistic team know of the need, Pastor Mike and His staff relied solely on God to provide for a need that nobody knew about it.

The day before the National Hoops team was to leave for its next tournament, the ministry received an unexpected, large donation in the amount of – you guessed it – $1,500 dollars!  The truck was repaired swiftly, the team headed for its next meeting without delay, and the team praised The Lord all along the way.

It is easy to get so caught up in the anxiety of life’s struggles that we forget how beneficial those struggles can be in strengthening our faith in God. When we see God provide miraculously, like He has many times for National Hoops Ministries, we cannot help but have more faith in God, and we cannot help but develop a stronger love for Him. When trouble comes, the trouble will appear much less frightening if we will step back and view it for what it is: a fantastic opportunity for God to help us trust Him and love Him more.

When anxiety floods your soul, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and ask God to solve your problem in the way that is best for you. It may take days, months, or even years for the solution to come, and the solution may not come in the form you anticipated or in the fashion you hoped for. But, if you truly want God to solve your problem in the way that is best for you, He will be faithful to do so as long as you will be faithful to wait on His perfect timing. Once the solution comes, your faith in Him and your love for Him will be stronger than it ever has been before, and you’ll come to realize that the trial you once dreaded was a blessing in disguise.