by Philip Bustrum

Since Cornerstone initiated this slogan for the coming school year, I’ve wondered what a “best year ever” would look like for me. I’ve dreamed about perfect classes where all my students got A’s, someone paying off all my debts (read school loans), winning the million dollar lottery, traveling the world, championships for Cornerstone’s soccer and basketball teams, and finally, no arguments with my wife (read getting my way all the time). This certainly would be my best year ever. Or would it?

As I reflected, my cognitive processes kicked in and I thought, in order to be the best year yet, this coming year has to exceed my best year so far. So I journeyed back in time (I have a few years to consider) to find my best year so far. I was astounded at what I discovered.

I was 32 years old, married with three very young children. We were on a plane flying to far off Africa to live in Kenya as missionaries. I was overwhelmed with how God had met our large prayer and financial needs in a very short time. The thrill and excitement of the ministry that lay ahead was intoxicating. But living in Africa didn’t make it the best year ever (we ended up living there for 14 years). What did make it the best year ever was what happened after we got there—trials, tribulations, and struggles that I had never envisioned.

My wife Bonnie and I had taken just enough money with us (in fact, it was all we had) to see us through the first month. The expenses of food and setting up housekeeping in Kenya quickly depleted all our funds. So we anxiously awaited a statement from our mission telling us how much money had been deposited into our account. The statement arrived and we happily tore open the envelope. Our hopes were dashed as we read, “You have $0.00 in your account.” No money had been deposited. Questions flooded our minds. How are we going to live? How were we going to feed our children? Then, why would God do this to us? After all, we left our family, church, and country for Him.

Whether we were too scared to tell anyone or just plain stupid, I don’t know, but Bonnie and I decided to just pray asking God to meet our needs. We didn’t tell anyone about our crisis. As we prayed, God did amazing things in that month. People invited us for lunch and after the meal gave us the “left-overs” to take home. The leftovers soon became our dinner.

A milk truck broke down near our home and the driver could not get the truck repaired so he gave us milk to last a week. Money appeared in envelopes in our mailbox and on our doorstep. We made it through the month and never went hungry or without. When the next statement arrived, God surprised us again with a $ 0.00 statement. Maybe God thought we hadn’t learned the lesson that He “will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.” In hindsight it was worth another month of unexpected miracles and anonymous gifts. I can’t relate how many times during those two months that we simply said, “Thank you, Jesus!”

Struggles and trials characterized our first year in Africa as we attempted to adjust to a strange place, a different culture, and perplexing languages. At every bump in the road, however, God reminded us that He had been with us when we had nothing. The trials strengthened our faith and trust in God and in God alone to sustain us in the tough times of life.

So I asked myself the most important question, “What made this the best year ever?” It was the trials. It was the unparalleled joy in seeing God work when we lived on the absolute edge of faith. Trials allowed us to see God work in our lives in new and exciting ways. Through it all His sustaining presence and grace demonstrated that He is sufficient to meet all our needs.

I’ve asked many people to describe their best year ever. Most pointed to a time when life stretched them to impossible lengths or when major life changing decisions had to be made. These circumstances created unusual opportunities for personal growth and trust in God. They allowed God to show Himself strong in the midst of our desperation, suffering, and trials.

As a school and as individuals, the best year ever might be one filled with immense and overwhelming trials—trials that have no answer or reason, and trials that will cause us to cry out to the true and living God for strength. But as God did for me and my family in Africa, I believe that He will show Himself as the wonderful, always present, all loving, all sufficient Savior that He is. And it will be the best year ever.