Since making the decision to take part in the World Race, money and fundraising have been on the forefront of my mind.

How much have I raised? Can I afford that? Does anyone else want to buy a shirt? Is there more I can be doing? Can I really raise $19,200? Let me refresh my donation page. 

When I started the fundraising process, it was all incredibly daunting. Anytime people asked for prayer requests, I was quick to ask for prayer for financial blessings. I am a newly graduated college student, my savings account was close to nonexistent, and I can be humble and admit that budgeting is not one of my God given gifts (in fact, it’s probably one of my greatest weaknesses hehe). So I began to pray. I asked God to help the fundraising process go smoothly. I sent out a few support letters, made a t-shirt design and got started. And then, God said - 

Huh? I hit the pause button and rewound again and again to make sure I heard Him right. 10 percent? Are you sure, God? 

I knew about tithing. I knew what it was and how to do it. I gave a regular ten percent of my paychecks and birthday money to my local church - I knew tithe within the safety of my small, controlled and routine world.

But what about tithe within the reality of fundraising? What about tithing when I’m already worried that I won’t be able to meet the financial requirements and minimums? What about tithing when it threatens to make things more difficult? You see, this kind of tithe required something entirely different - TRUST. Trusting that God will take care of me financially. Trusting that He will provide me with what I need to go on the race, and ultimately, trusting that God has my back.

So I tithed. With each donation I received, I would give 10 percent back to the Lord. And let me tell ya, there were definitely some growing pains. Tithing in a fundraising situation in which I already felt helpless and out of control began to highlight things that I was still holding on to. I still believed that it was by my power, not His, that I would be financially secure. I never knew how much I held onto control of finances until I was forced to let go. I prayed about where to send the money and with each tithe check I would write, I let go of control and feelings of fear and worry and doubt. I believed that God would help me reach my fundraising goal, somehow, even if it took all the way up to the final deadline.

And y’all! God blew my mind. Once I started to tithe, money didn’t just come, it poured in. I cried as people came out of the wood works to give me gifts that I never could’ve imagined. I wrote so many thank you notes my hand hurt. It all came in so quickly, I felt like I couldn’t keep up. Each time I gave my tithe, I would wonder if it would be the last one, but repeatedly God showed up and proved Himself faithful (doesn’t He always seem to do that in such incredible ways?). I didn’t have to push or strive or beg people for help. I stepped down from control and sat in peace as God took his place as Jehovah Jireh (the Lord who Provides). And y’all, he will always provide. Praise Him :)

Much love and many blessings,

Annie