By Melissa, Pregnancy Counselor

Many years ago, God branded upon my heart the truth in Ephesians 3:20 (ESV), “to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.”  There are so many great things in this verse. God is able!  He goes above and beyond anything that we could ever think or imagine to ask! Recently, I witnessed God do this through the local church.

You need to know that I am not gifted at making requests of people, for time, money, or resources. There are many gifts in the Body of Christ, but mine is not asking for things! So when I had to make a request like this on behalf of my client a few months ago, I was very uncomfortable. Yet the Lord, in His power and righteousness, blew me out of the water with his response.

I was doing a needs assessment with a client, Rebecca. As we discussed her most urgent needs, she hesitantly held up her arms and legs to show me she was covered in little, red bites! I said, “Oh, Rebecca!  Those looks like either flea bites or bed bugs!” As we continued to talk, she explained that she and her children had been sleeping on the floor and her grandma gave them a mattress that she had in storage.  Unfortunately, it was infested with bed bugs. They were completely eaten up, and I told her I’d do my best to get her a new mattress.

I intended to call Goodwill, but a friend of mine called me first. She happened to live near my client and suggested I connect with a man at local church named Eric. I told Eric about Rebecca’s desperate need of a mattress, but then he asked if she had any other needs. I only hoped for a mattress, but he insisted on hearing all of her needs so that the church could pray over providing more!

Within an hour (no joke, an hour!) his team purchased not only a mattress, but a box spring, bed linens, and several months’ supply of diapers/wipes/formula for her youngest child (a 7 month old). On top of that, they got her a pack-n-play (so her youngest wouldn’t have to sleep in the bed with her) and a host of groceries. But that wasn’t the end of it. They didn’t just purchase these things, they received permission to bring them to her home, set everything up, and pray for her personally. Even in the midst of COVID-19, they put the gospel and the love of Christ before their concern about germs or bed bugs.

That night, Rebecca texted me and said that she couldn’t stop crying. She was so thankful for all that everyone had done and felt so at peace. Since then, the church has continued to check in on her and offer to help. They truly have been the hands and feet of Christ to Rebecca. I’m still blown away that the request of a mattress turned into a gift abundantly more than I or Rebecca could have imagined.