Because of a series of unfortunate events, I had to buy a new car a few weeks ago. ( I rear-ended someone, “a series of unfortunate events” sounds better.)
In the process, I was asking around for opinions and wisdom. I wasn’t asking any old person, I was asking people I trust of course and subsequently value their opinions. One person told me to be sensible in my purchase, and the other told me to be a cash car. As someone who always does the thing that makes sense, I surprisingly wasn’t okay with those responses. I struggled a little, to be honest.
When I left both conversations, I asked myself a few questions. On my practical side: Do I want to spend money monthly on something that just makes sense but I don’t want? Do I want to buy a cash car, again spending money on something I don’t want? On my spiritual side: Does Jesus just want my life to make sense in the presence of others? Did Jesus’ life make sense?
So I prayed. I didn’t have a dream car to pray about outside of a Toyota 4Runner, and that fell flat when I went to test drive it for several reasons. I didn’t know what to pray except “God, I need a car”; so that’s what I prayed. One day as I was praying and reading for another project I’m working on, I came across Luke 9:1-6. In it Jesus sends out the 12 disciples. He tells them to take nothing. Now to me this doesn’t make any sense, you want me to travel across the county but not take anything? If I’m being honest, what I thought I heard God say regarding the car didn’t make any sense to me either. So I ignored it for about 2 1/2 weeks. I just kept praying. At some point God stopped answering me. I think it was one of those, “Jasmine, I’ve already answered that question” situations God and I have more than I would like to admit.
Reading Luke 9 was encouraging me to me. Jesus wanted the disciples to complete their mission in a way that is foreign to us. I don’t know of any missionary that left everything and didn’t even fundraise before they left, In a way that didn’t quite make sense. But this is how God works, his instructions don’t always make sense, but that doesn’t make it any less God.
I must remember that beyond buying a new car, God’s assignments won’t always be practical. These “unconventional” assignments will cause confusion to those around me who are wise; who do have my best interest in mind; who love me. But that’s okay.
I must be obedient to everything God says, he’s in the practical and the impractical. He’s in the majestic and the mundane. He’s in peace and chaos. He’s in the routine and the adventure. God’s instructions can come in any form and for that I’m grateful.
God is good y’all! (Especially when he figures out how to pay my first car note ever in my life lol)
Luke 9:1-6 9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.