SundayApril5,2015|devo23

fromGabe...

HiSeniors:)

Inthesefinalweeks,youllhear
fromrecentBrowngradswhowere
askedthisyear,whathavebeen
theblessingsandchallengessince
graduatingandwhatadvicewould
youwanttogivethe2015ers.

LetsstartwithGabrielBrotzman.
Thisphotobombwasduringour
missionstripinPeru.Gabewas
charming,wittyandagoodfriend.
EverytimeIhearDeathinHis
Grave,IcanhearGabesvoice
andcanseehimleadingtheBranchinworshipinArnoldLounge.Imisshim:)

...The biggest challenge I faced since graduating was a financial one.

Specifically, the challenge of paying for more schooling and other costs
associated with pursuing anarea(medicine)thatIfeltGodwascallingmeto.It
caused a lotof confusion and tension inmylife forawhile,andevenstilldoes.
And I think the overarching problem I had with all this was how complicated
everything was. I had just imagined it would be so much smoother of a ride
after college, that theworkwouldbethehardpart,notthelittlelogisticalthings.
So I found myself doubting a lot of things and wondering if every bumpin the
roadwasn'tGodsayingIwasdoingsomethingwrong.

But I would also say that my financial difficulties have provedto bethebiggest
blessings in my life. As I mentioned before,therehavebeensomanylogistical
things that haveturned into huge roadblocks duringthepastyearfromfinding
an open spotofclassesIhadtotake,tomappingoutaworkablebusschedule,
to being eligible for a loan. But despite the neverending pattern this year of
being brought low, somehow God has sustained meeven if that means just
providing me dailybreadinevery situation. Icouldgivesome examples(andI
willifyou wantsome),butIthinkitsbestexplainedinDeuteronomy8(speaking
ofGodtotheIsraelitesinthewilderness):

3 Hehumbledyou, causing you tohunger andthenfeedingyouwithmanna,whichneither

younoryour ancestors had known, to teachyouthat mandoesnotliveonbreadalonebut
on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.4Yourclothesdidnotwearoutand

your feet did not swell during these forty years.5 Knowthenin your heartthatas aman
disciplineshisson,sotheLordyourGoddisciplinesyou.
...
10 When you have eaten andare satisfied,praise the Lord yourGod for thegoodlandhe
hasgiven you. 11BecarefulthatyoudonotforgettheLordyourGod,failingtoobservehis
commands, hislawsand his decrees that Iamgivingyouthisday.12Otherwise,whenyou
eat andare satisfied,whenyoubuildfinehousesandsettledown,13andwhenyourherds
and flocks grow large andyoursilver and gold increaseand all you have ismultiplied, 14
then your heart will become proudand you will forgettheLordyourGod,whobroughtyou
outofEgypt,outofthelandofslavery.
...
17 You may say to yourself,My power and the strength ofmy handshaveproduced this
wealth forme.18 Butrememberthe LordyourGod, foritis hewhogivesyoutheability to
produce wealth,and so confirms his covenant, which he swore toyour ancestors, asit is
today. 19If you ever forget theLordyourGod and followothergodsandworshipandbow
downtothem,Itestifyagainstyoutodaythatyouwillsurelybedestroyed.

Sorry for the bible study there, but I think this passage (which,coincidentally,I
read during my quiet timethismorning)reallyencapsulatesmypastyearalong
with its difficulties andblessings. I feellike, in the past year, I have very much
been humbled financially, emotionally, spiritually, and even relationally. And I
believe wholeheartedly that it was by the grace of God, and for my eternal
benefit, that it happened that way. I was humbled so thatit would be easier to
see my life how I should have seen it before: utterly dependent on the grace
andfaithfulnessofGod.

The wonderful thing about the passage is that it talks so beautifully about why
God does thesethings. In thiscase,hemadethe Israeliteshungersothatthey
could understand a far more important truth. I think this idea is so important
specifically in the area offinances and especially for Brown students whowill,
I'm sure, largely go on to become wealthy people. Really, in every area, the
most loving thing Godcan do is to reveal to us how desperately weneedhim.
A lot of times that comes by makingus "hunger" like the Israelites. And those
times should be seen as an opportunity to praise God and to witness his
incredible provision and guidance. We shouldnt desiretoneverneedGod,nor
should we desire to be poor. But we should desire to understand that
everpresent,realneedforHim...

Indeed:)andheresthat
song
.

HeHasRisen!
~YourSeniorYear