Every year for the past sixteen years we have hosted a super bowl party. We’ve had 100+ middle school kids running around a building with no volunteers, a buffalo wing eating competition during half time that involved puking, or even hosting at our old house and having that high schooler spill red soda on the carpet. The night is always filled with surprises! But last night was different.

We had a small group over. It’s a special group to us because each one is facing some exceptional hard challenges. These are some of the teens that we had over so they would have a Christmas and many of you helped! One in particular, it’s been really hard for him. I volunteered to be his mentor if he would join the program at school. My wife (who happens to be a teacher at his school) has been working with him as well giving him numerous leadership opportunities. I’ve preached so many sermons on trusting God through the bad times the past two months and was silently praying for him, that he would hear God calling.

The past couple of mentor meetings I’ve been really challenging him to apply to colleges and universities. At first he didn’t like the idea. He didn’t think he could do it. He talked about how he had the deck stacked against him financially, difficult family situations, and even the grades were slacking. I asked him how hard he wanted to be pushed and he said he trusted me. I told him ok, and I’ve been pushing him sense.

So then that’s when I got involved pushing him for scholarships. Educating him on grants. What about this school. Public or private? College, University, or Community? Student loans. Have you turned in this form, that form, dude…”no”. THEN DO IT! I think I may have actually scared him a little!

Then it happened. During the game last night he walked over to me with a little bit of tears in his eyes. He said, “Robbie, look at this” and handed me his phone. I looked at it and it was an email that advised a college accepted his application! This was the one that he truly wanted above the others. I just grabbed him and hugged him as much as a dad could. I say dad because I try to be a father figure to these boys as much as I am to my own boys. I looked him in the eye ms and just told him over and over how proud I am. After the game was over, I was still pumped and texted him about it. I wanted him to know how big that acceptance letter is.

I wrote this to testify about how great our God is. If God can use me, think about all that He wants to do with and through you to encourage others! Stand in the gap for someone today. Remind them they really can do it. Remind them they are special. Remind them to rise above the fear. If you are the one that is asking for help, go after and ask! Seek wisdom from God and find a trustworthy person that will help push you towards that goal. Don’t face the fears by yourself!

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good.”

-Romans 8:28

We may not know the full plan, but He knows the potential in you. Your community needs you. Watch God work together all things for good!