He Provided Daily Bread – Taylor
My story starts back in March of this year when I came home from a long stint in Utah for work. After arriving back home in Naples, a 10-year relationship with my girlfriend ended and work became unbearably slow. I found my own place to rent, now on a single source of income that had already reduced drastically. My savings quickly started to dwindle, which caused stress, fear, anxiety, and uncertainty, so much so that there would be nights and days when I would just cry, not knowing what I was going to do. This would be the start of my trials and tribulations.
A short time later I was on the phone with the person I was renting from, who also happens to be very near and dear to my heart. As she was familiar with and understanding of my situation, she helped me understand the Holy Spirit and what it would look like to draw near to God and grow my faith in Jesus Christ. Her connection with God was so strong that I could literally feel it. I could see the grace of God in her, which made me want to know Him as well. I bought myself a Bible so I could read scripture, started to pray habitually, and started attending First Naples as much as I could. She and I would read and study the Bible together and through that, I was able to understand our Lord and Savior more and more each day. I am so extremely grateful for her presence in my life.
I could see the grace of God in her, which made me want to know him as well.
As my understanding and faith grew, my life started to change. The stress, anxiety, fear, and uncertainty went away as well as all of the vices I was using to cope. I also got in the best shape of my life. I’ve always been in good shape, but this was on another level. It was such an amazing feeling, things I wasn’t sure were possible. It’s astounding the amount of strength our Lord can give us. My financial instability continued, which still caused a bit of stress here and there but I always held on to faith and HE provided daily bread for me. I was able to keep my head just above water with enough work popping up when I needed it most.
I always held on to faith and HE provided daily bread for me.
Through all of these changes in my life, I found it harder and harder to believe in coincidences. I was getting better at learning how to listen and see our Lord at work in my life. With my faith growing stronger, I felt it my duty to “be the church.” So with conviction, I would explain to my mother, my barber, my best friend in Arizona who is in a dark place, and a few others how great our Lord and Savior is, how much he loves us, and the impact it can have on our life if we draw nearer to him. As I would speak to them, I sometimes found it difficult to explain how I was able to put my words together and to have an answer for every rebuttal that they could think of. So much so, that my friend from Arizona who truly needs God in his life, was brought to silence. I had stumped him on every inquiry and denial that he had. I am nowhere near a theological expert and have not read the Bible in its entirety yet, so how was I able to do so? It can be none other than the Holy Spirit guiding me as I spoke to them.
One day I was getting my haircut and having a conversation about my experiences with my barber. I could tell his heart was open and a bubble was formed around us, no one else was engaging with us – it was like he and I were sitting in our own silent room. I prayed over him before I left that day and he was very thankful. Fast forward to late August… I was watching Pastor Alan on the online livestream at home as he delivered another amazing sermon that resonated with me so deeply. On my knees, crying uncontrollably, my skin covered in goosebumps, this was the day I asked Jesus to save me and accepted him as my Lord and Savior. I scheduled myself to be baptized on September 1st and it was the most amazing feeling I’ve experienced in my life. I am so grateful.
Shortly after, keeping the faith, my prayers began to be answered. I have been flooded with work since the beginning of September making financial gains and getting out of debt. I have very little downtime to myself but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I will take this beautiful blessing of being burdened by work with gratefulness. I am thankful for HIM.
God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.