By Tonya S. Swindell

In the 1989 film “Field of Dreams,” Ray, an Iowa farmer, did his best to build a baseball diamond in the middle of a remote cornfield.

Nothing happened on the field for the first few months after he built it. But eventually Ray was fascinated to see Shoeless Joe Jackson and other Major League Baseball players of the past arrive and play on the field.

In the Book of Genesis, Noah put great effort into building a unique structure too. Even though building an ark almost 50 feet tall and two times the length of a football field seemed like a crazy proposition, Noah did his best to complete the project.

Once Noah had finished, God did the rest by leading animals of all species to the ark so they could be saved from a massive flood.

In the Book of 1 Kings, God directed the prophet Elijah to travel east of the Jordan River. Elijah did his best by traveling there obediently. God did the rest by making sure Elijah received miraculous provision. He was fed meat and bread by a raven and drank water from a brook for hydration.

When the brook dried up, God continued providing for Elijah’s needs. He told him, “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”

After finding the widow and asking her for food, Elijah may have been surprised to hear her say, “As surely as the Lord your God lives, I don’t have any bread — only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son that we may eat it and die.”

Despite the widow’s response, God provided Elijah with a plan. The widow was instructed to bake a small cake for the prophet then prepare one for herself and her son.

After doing her best to serve God, the prophet and her family, the widow was assured, “…There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!”

I’m thankful for a wise woman who continually tells me, “Do your best and God will do the rest.” Her inspiring words remind me I have a part to play by exercising my faith. James 2:26 confirms it by saying, “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”

When I act in faith, I can trust God to make a way. And when I embrace His vision, I can expect His provision. When I do my best I can let God do the rest. And when my effort has an ending, God’s power is just beginning.

“…with men things are impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Tonya Swindell writes a blog for www.inspirenewlife.org and a teacher for Kingdom Building Equipping School (KBES.com). She can be reached at 1brightot@gmail.com.