I was blessed enough to go to Bible college at 16 years old. Being so young was a blessing and a curse. Thankfully it was BIBLE College so being tempted with beer; smoking and drugs wasn’t much of a problem. However, I couldn’t go to the movies the others were going to (like Jaws- it was rated PG) or getting a ‘grown up’ job that would pay enough for tuition.
My family wanted me to go to a secular college to become a lawyer. That was fine, but I wanted to go and learn more about Jesus. Because of this decision, I was cut off by my family receiving no help emotionally or financially from them. In fact the money I had saved up all the months before- was confiscated in an attempt to keep me from going to college.
Thankfully, back then, room and board at the dorm was 12 dollars a week and my yearly tuition was $5000.00 with books added on so it was workable, but still a mountain for me to face. I attempted to purchase as much as I could before I left; books, clothes, notebooks and the like. I took many of the courses through our youth leader so I would get credit for them and not have to pay for the classes.
LOOKING FOR FAILURE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
Even I as rode with friends to Miami, I was concerned that I wouldn’t make it financially. Being so young, I couldn’t work, being sort of a test case for the college, I had a great pressure to succeed. I had my family all looking to me to fail none of them believing in God and his Son.
And yet, people in my youth group told me I had Jesus.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” Philippians 4:12 KJV.
With Jesus, all things were possible.
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Mark 10:27 KJV
THEN CAME HOPE
My devotions in my dorm that first night, was in Joel chapter 2. Scared, not sure of my next meal, I asked God, if I put everything I have into my studies, will you provide my meals? Then I found verse Joel 2: 21- 27
“Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. Be not afraid… Be glad then, … rejoice in the Lord, your God. And the floors shall be full of wheat and the fats shall over flow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years… and ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God, that had dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. – …know I am in the midst,,, that I am the Lord your God and none else, and my peoples shall never be ashamed.”
I took this as my promise verse in college that if I spent my time learning, growing, working, teaching… that God would provide me with my meals. And he did… until…
One night in December about 11pm I laid in my bed looking out the window realizing that I hadn’t eaten all day. I had studied, had my devotions, served with my chosen ministry, but I had taken no time to eat. I thanked God for the busy day, the time to serve Him, but I knew I would be famished come morning and prayed he would provide when it was time to provide.
My roommate, Nancy, came back from her date. I don’t know how it came that she got to date this young man. She was a freshman, he was a senior. She was a giddy girl, he was very, very stoic and serious, he was the senior class president; she barely got out of bed to get to class. But he asked her out. She came in, bright and breezy as she always was… and whispered, “Trish, are you still awake?”
“Yep.” was my one word reply.
“Good, cuz I got something for ya!” and she tossed a white paper bag at me. “Paul wanted you to have this”. Thinking it was a book from a class, I opened it and in side was a Ruben sandwich.
GOD KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED
Now if I was some sort of Greek goddess and I wanted sacrifices to be given to me, THIS would be the sacrifice. A Ruben sandwich made with thick rye bread, loads of moist pastrami, Swiss cheese, 1000 island dressing and sauerkraut… and the more pastrami the better. I am not a goddess, nor am I Greek, but my Heavenly Father who knows everything, gave me not only dinner, but my favorite dinner made just the way I like it.
“When Paul found out that you were my roommate, he told me how much he admired you and he asked me to bring you this. Hurry up and eat it, the kraut stinks!” she admonished.
As I sat and ate the sandwich I remembered the promises God and I made to each other 5 months before. If I applied all I had to the work of learning and applying, He would provide me my meals.
The next morning I went back to those verses and wrote the date I learned to lean on God, he makes good on his promises- the date was December 7, 1973. Another promise God kept for me… a beautiful daughter was born December 7, 1976. Last year on Face book I found Paul, thanked him (finally) for proving God’s word to me. Thanking him for sending his leftovers up to me. He told me that he had ordered that sandwich especially for me, and he thought when he picked it out it was strange as Ruben’s tend to a sandwich men like. But for whatever reason that was the one he felt led to send to me.
God has proven himself over and over to me, as the song goes, and if you were to see me, you would know that he has provided MANY a meal to me. God has been with me holding my hand reminding me time after time, “Fear not, Trisha, be glad and rejoice, I will do great things.”