Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 | Uncategorized

8 Comments

A forest fire was rapidly working its way down the canyon toward our buildings—which included my home and office. It was late afternoon a few days before Thanksgiving in November of 1980. I was driving from San Diego, California, to our headquarters at Arrowhead Springs.

When my car crested the hill on Highway 91 in Riverside, I could see Arrowhead Springs across the valley, seemingly engulfed in flames. That was where I had left my wife and baby daughter that morning.

What was I supposed to do? One thing for sure—trust God! That circumstance compelled me to have an extreme dependence on God.

As it turns out there was a fire at Arrowhead, and Judy and Debbie and everyone else in the Campus Crusade for Christ family there got out in time.

We only lost a few smaller buildings. But our entrance bridge was destroyed, so we had no easy access to Arrowhead Springs.

The next day God did some remarkable things to get us “back in business,” including:

1.  He gave an idea to pair our offices in our downtown buildings (27th Street) with specific offices from Arrowhead Springs. By noon we had desks, phones and supplies available for the displaced offices from Arrowhead Springs.
2.  A retired colonel from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was able to muster a team and equipment to build a “temporary” entrance bridge in just several hours. (That bridge lasted a year!)

My point is simply that when we put our total trust in God, He provided.  That example was big. But we need to depend on God with small matters as well. For example, a few years after I joined staff I noticed the need for more business suits in light of my job. I had a limited budget, but I did buy a few suits. Finally, though, I wondered what would happen if I just prayed about it rather than hurry to buy a gray suit I thought I needed.

A few days later a friend and staff member, John Lowe, burst into my office with two suits in his arms. One was gray. The other one was too small for me, but the gray one fit me perfectly.

John did not know I had prayed for a suit. But when a clothing store went out of business in northern Illinois, John’s friend (the owner) sent John some suits to give away to Campus Crusade staff members. John thought of me and was the instrument God used to personally deliver my new gray suit.

Sometimes we need to depend on God for protection more than provision. I was just reading the account of a number of Ethiopian students connected with our ministry were beaten and jailed due to their witness for Christ.

I imagine they found themselves praying like King David:

“Deliver me from my enemies O God; protect me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from evil doers…” (Psalm 59:1, 2a)

In those kinds of situations, extreme dependence on God dramatically influences even how we think and feel:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

I think God eagerly waits for us to trust Him completely. Normally, He requires us to plan and work toward His assignments for us. Sometimes He provides above and beyond what we would expect.

But in all circumstances He is pleased when we:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Over the next few months I would like to explore with you some ways we can depend on God more completely. In a previous communication I mentioned “extreme dependence on God” as a crucial element of the change we need to seek in the months and years to come. I am committed to being on this journey with you.

I look forward to learning more about how we can trust God with all of our hearts.

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8 Comments

Jerry Lechliter | June 15, 2010

Steve,
Thank you for an EXCELLENT reminder of our constant need to trust God even in the little things. I encourage you to use your Twitter account to point others to these valuable blogs. They can be a blessing to so many more!
God bless always!
Until all have heard,
Jerry

Matt | June 15, 2010

Hi Steve,
I enjoyed reading what you had to say and am encouraged by the reminder that we need to trust God for all things and in every situation. Your story made think back to an experience I had many years ago whilst working on the remote Kimberley coast in north Western Australia. A group of us were hunkering down in a corrugated iron shed as a category 5 cyclone hammered us. To be honest, we all thought about the possibility that we would not survive this one. At the time, I was a secret follower of Jesus, the only one there as far as I could tell, but I wasn’t the only one praying! At the height of the storm (wind in excess of 300km/h) I had an overwhelming sense of God presence. As clear as day, I remember Him saying “Trust Me, I know the plans I have for you.” This is the promise I hang on to every time things get tough… but I am reminded that it is also a promise for everyday situations. He is in control… He knows what we need… He knows us.
Yours in Christ service
Matt

Blessy Siby Paul | June 16, 2010

Thank you for the encouragement…Extreme dependence gives us the excitement for every day!

Ali Enos | June 16, 2010

Thank you for encouraging us to be dependent on our amazing and faithful God. Appreciate your leadership and desire to lead in a way that points us to Him rather than to you.

In Christ,
Ali

Angela Chang | June 16, 2010

Dear Steve,
I am always inspired by your sharing. Thank you for spending your time to share with us.
Yes–Sometimes we need to depend on God for protection more than provision.
Let’s trust Him more and deeper for our significant future.
PS:please pass my warm greetings to your lovely wife Judy. I really enjoyed the time meeting with her.
Serving the Lord with you,
Angela

Joseph Ryu | June 16, 2010

Hello Dr. Douglass,
My name is Joseph Ryu, Regional Student Representative of NY Korea Campus Crusade for Christ.

This extreme dependence on God is something that I’ve been finding constantly at the roots of my faith and I’d like to also add that this week, I’ve been very much convicted of not being “of this world” while we are “in this world” as the fruit of extreme dependence on God as Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17. This extreme dependence on God happens at conversion when our dead spirits are made alive and new and we are given The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.. our perspectives in life no longer are bound to this reality but broken to the eternal perspectives as our minds are “transformed by the renewing of our minds.”.. And knowing the Truth of God with transformed minds by the Holy Spirit, we awaken to the glory of God’s holiness, and the abounding grace He gives for our sinfulness- leading to a life not bound by vainglory or reputation or sin.

That is infact the very blood of Christ-centered believers who through faith can live out the radical discipleship and lifestyle that comes by this extreme dependence on God.

We’re in need of extreme dependence on God in my generation. It’s not enough to be encouraged by the few who are living out the Gospel in power and deed. I’m praying for a reviving of a whole nation.

Thank you Dr. Douglass, for being a constant encouragement that faithfulness to Jesus Christ is worth everything we got. I hope to see the many initiatives of CCCI bear abundant fruit in the next 10 years and I am excited for all that God will do in our time on this earth.

Sincerely yours,
Joseph Ryu

ross | June 17, 2010

Thank you for this message. I also appreciated Joseph Ryu’s & the other comments here. Thanks for your leadership. It seems that there is an increased commitment to open & accessible leadership, which my wife & I really admire. Thanks again,

ross

Colleen Fraser | June 29, 2010

Dear Steve,

What a blessing you are as you follow Christ. I was so touched and encouraged by your message. I pray every day that our first love will compel us to holiness, obedience and utter dependence on Christ. May his name be hallowed, his kingdom come and his will be done as we fall upon him in extreme dependence! May his glory be seen in and through us and throughout the world. Praising him for that day!

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Steve Douglas

Steve Douglass

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