By Erin Austin 

Common sense and modern-day thinking tell us to have all the money before we start something new. There needs to be a plan in order to succeed. Yet God works differently than us. One needs to only read the Bible to see that God often tells His people to do something and then, He only blesses them once they’ve taken the first step. This is something Joy Ranch has seen on a regular basis. 

Mary McHenry wrote in Feed My Lambs that when they decided to build the second cottage at Joy Ranch, she thought they would be able to begin construction immediately and “there would be no further tests of faith as far as Joy Ranch was concerned.” Yet that wasn’t to be. Just as the McHenrys had to trust God to provide the need for the first cottage, they also had to do the same for the second cottage. 

We’ve experienced this time and time again at the Ranch. From purchasing equipment to refurbishing the gym, we move forward one faith step at a time because God never wanted it to be about what any of us can do, but about what He can do.   

“As the widow’s ‘barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the Word of the Lord,’ God continually replenished our building fund as money was needed. Without any delay the building was completed – and fully paid for – in God’s time…..And we knew our Father’s way for us would always be ‘Forward by Faith’” (Mary McHenry). 

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My way.” ~ Isaiah 55:8