Written by Lindsey Smith, Missionary Care Team Member
God is a Faithful Provider.
One of the amazing things about testimonies is how they inspire others to take steps of faith. They encourage people to think, If God worked in this person’s life, why not mine too? I experienced this first hand recently.
Lately, God has been leading me down the exciting path of starting a new ministry in my home church—an extension of my larger calling to care for missionaries through intentional relationships, encouragement, networking, and advocacy. This new ministry involves launching a coffee cart at church, creating a space for intentional conversations about the missionaries we’ve sent, and generating funds to bless them.
With this goal in mind, I’ve been navigating the process of acquiring equipment, knowledge, and funding. Along the way, the Lord has continually reminded me that this is His ministry. He will make a way—I am simply called to remain in Him and be faithful with what He places before me. But I’m still prone to doubt, often trying to make things happen in my own strength. This becomes especially challenging when what I’m pursuing falls outside my experience (aka coffee!).
One particular week, after multiple meetings and open doors, I felt immense pressure to finalize the equipment so I could move forward. I realized my stress came from believing the weight of this work rested solely on me—that its success depended on my abilities. A few days earlier, someone had shared how the Lord provided for their ministry through an unforeseen connection. I remember thinking, That would be really nice if that could happen for me. Then came a gentle conviction: Why couldn’t it happen for you, Lindsey? Is the God of that ministry not the same God leading you? Have you gone to Him in faith, or have you just been trying to work this out on your own?
The answer was obvious. So I paused and wrote this prayer in my journal:
“Lord, please provide for this coffee cart in miraculous ways. I want to see You at work—not just for my faith but as a testimony to those around me.”
Two days later, I had a scheduled call with a pastor whose ministry helps churches establish coffee programs. He also owns a roasting company that channels its profits to missions. Someone had recommended I reach out to him for wisdom on how to get started. My goal for the conversation was simply to make a connection and seek advice.
As I shared my heart for missions and the ministry, as well as my struggle to find equipment, the pastor suddenly stopped me.
“Lindsey, the Lord is working in this,” he said. “I have to tell you—I have a storage unit full of all the equipment you need! I was about to sell it, but now I see that this is exactly what you need to get going. So, I’ll let you and your church decide on a budget you’re comfortable with, and then I’ll sell it to you, haul it to your church, and set it up for you!”
I was shocked. Did God really just do that? Yep! It was a clear answer to prayer, and the timing had God’s fingerprints all over it. Needless to say, my faith was increased—and I hope yours is encouraged too.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith fills the gap between God’s promise and its fulfillment, even when we can’t yet see it. When we place our faith in God, who is absolutely faithful to us, we can trust that His plans—though often different from our own—are far greater than we imagined. He is at work in your life, even if you don’t see it yet.
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