The "God margin" - summer 2025

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26

A few weeks ago we had a team meeting, like every other week, where we get together, pray, catch up on life and spend time together. This time Angela gave a small devotional on the life of Gideon and particularly when he and the 32,000 soldiers were prepared for battle and they saw in the valley 132,000 enemy soldiers. Soon enough, the 32,000 reduced to 10,000 and then it reduced again to only 300. How crazy is that! For each person, they were up against 440 enemies. Imagine being part of the 300 and thinking of the impossibility it would be to win the battle. And they won. That is the God margin - when something seems so out of reach and completely impossible, God makes a way, He makes it possible.

After sharing that, Angela asked us "What is your 'God margin' in this time?" I think all this reflects what I lived and learned at a youth camp this summer. There was a discussion on the story of after Jesus brought Lazarus back to life and they had dinner together. It was there that Mary washed Jesus' feet with a very expensive perfume. She didn't limit herself to just opening the bottle, but she broke it in order to pour all of it out onto Jesus' feet, symbolizing a complete surrender, a devotion without reservation. The other question is, "What are you holding on to, are you giving it all to God?"

God has spoken to me so much in regards to these two questions. When we hold on to our own desires, we begin to believe that we know best and can handle it on our own. It gives us the burden and load, instead of giving it to God who wants and desires to hold that for us. When we hold on to things, it impedes Him from doing the impossible.

I have been reflecting on how I have seen the "God margin" being carried out this year in my life and it has been so amazing to see how time and time again, God shows up.

First with my visa renewal. This last spring we were in the beginning of outreach with the Discipleship Training School (DTS) and had gone from England to Albania. In the midst of all the traveling and doing ministry work, I received the news that my residency renewal for Spain had been denied. My visa was rejected and I was all the way across Europe and had been given 30 days to bring in an appeal. We tried to figure out a method for me to do it from Albania, but there was no way. I went from serving alongside my team in Roma villages with children at risk, to buying a last minute flight back to Spain. I arrived back home discouraged, saddened, and stressed. I filled out all the documents, sent in the appeal, and left it up to God to do the rest. What seemed like an impossible situation God worked out and in the end the appeal was reviewed and my residency renewal was accepted!

I think finances is another big area where I have continually seen the "God margin" this year. During the DTS I was barely getting by and especially on outreach my funds were running low. Then to run into this issue with my visa renewal I had to pay unexpected bills for last minute flights, paperwork, notaries, etc. It again seemed like an impossible situation to overcome but once again God showed up. He provided through family and friends and their support and prayers.

The last big area I've seen the "God margin" in is with my relationships and friendships. Having lived here in Spain for two years, I still have found it hard to make connections. The last two years have been filled with prayers asking God to bring me a group of people on fire for Him, desiring to know Him more, and pushing me to dive deeper with Him. Once more, He has made a way. Earlier this last spring I reconnected with some friends that I had first known from my church here but it was as if we had shifted in a way that made the friendship stronger, more grounded and centered on God. And it's been through them that I have met so many other Christian youth. Through their connections I was able to be a part of a youth camp this last month where I got to meet so many young people on fire for God and I made so many connections with people from all over Spain.

Isn't our God just so amazing?! How He loves, how He cares, how He does the impossible. I am constantly reminded of His goodness and faithfulness. I am abounding in His love, joy, and grace.

Many blessings and all the love,

Zetta

outreach in Albania with the Roma kids

worship at camp

Jonnae surprised me and came for a week!

a team from Madrid helped us with our Kids on the beach ministry

the last dinner with the DTS before graduation

the hotel we're considering for our base (please pray!)