By Mark Harbert – Tipp City, Ohio
It was 3:30 a.m. in Concepcion, Chile on February 27, 2010. My family was sound asleep when the apartment started violently shaking.
It was an 8.9 earthquake and like nothing I have ever experienced before. Being 50 miles from the epicenter, it went on for several minutes.
That event was the start of about six weeks without power, access to grocery stores, or even running water. It was a crazy time.
However, it was also one of the most exciting times of our lives to see God supply our needs and much more so we could bless others.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20 KJV
After the earthquake, my wife Juany, our daughter Nicole, and I went to stay with my brother-in-law Miguel to pool our resources. There were eight of us in one small house.
We knew the next few weeks were going to be a challenge. All of the grocery stores were being looted, so getting food was going to be scarce.
After about a week with no cell service, power, or ability to buy food, we decided to drive around and see what we could find. We had a list: eggs and lots of produce.
There was hardly anybody out and about. As we were driving, we saw a woman on the side of the road all by herself (not a soul in sight) with a cart stacked with racks of eggs! Exactly what we needed. THANK YOU, GOD!
We continued driving and pulled into an area where a very large truck full of produce had just parked. They opened up the back to reveal large 50 kilo bags of potatoes, carrots, and just about every type of produce you could think of. All I could think was, “Wow God, when you supply, you don’t mess around.” It was amazing how God was pouring on the blessings.
Things got even more interesting… once we loaded up the car with bags and bags of produce and climbed back in, I said in my heart,
“Thank you, Lord, for supplying us with this abundance of food, not just for us but to share with those around us. I have one more request: it’s probably too much to ask, but I would love some soda. Regardless, thanks for these blessings today.”
That was it. I didn’t think about it anymore because quite honestly, I felt a little silly even asking God for that.
So, we drove back home. As we pulled into the driveway, I saw a car.
It was my niece’s fiancé. He had come to make sure she was doing okay. We went into the house, and what did I see on the floor?
Three crates full of soda.
WHAT?! My niece’s fiancé had brought them.
I thought, “God, are you serious? You heard my desire. Thank you.”
I was in tears thinking of how God heard me and provided something so small to bless me. I learned a valuable lesson.
God knows us better than we know ourselves. He cares about the things I care about.
Some might think, “Well, it was only soda.” No. For me, it was much bigger.
It was confirmation that God heard me. He showed me just how much the little things in my life matter to him. Even soda.
So my question to you is, what need or desire do you have in your life that you think is too insignificant to take to God?
Nothing’s Too Small
I tell you, it’s not too small. He hears you. He wants to open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing on your life that you don’t have room enough to receive. God specializes in the smallest things to bless His kids.
During the aftermath of the earthquake, we never had a lack of anything. We always had much more food than we could eat, so much so that I have no doubt God was multiplying our supply supernaturally. No matter how much we consumed, there was always plenty to give away.
God will do the same for you. The question is, “Are you ready to let Him?”
Let’s tell Him what we need and desire right now. He hears us!
Mark, a small business owner, lives with his wife Juany and daughter Nicole in Tipp City. Mark and Juany serve on the pastoral care team at CFF. Learn about how God is working in Juany’s life and local prayer group in “Prayer Transforms Us!”