Counting the Cost
May 31, 2020 | by Nancy Newbrough
When our two children entered high school four years ago, my wife and I decided it was time to plan ahead and we started researching college costs. It was a very unpleasant surprise to learn about the unbelievable costs of higher education. The reality hit that we had not saved nearly enough money to cover the expenses for the two of them to earn bachelor’s degrees. And even with economizing and saving every possible cent in the next four years, we could not begin to cover what would be needed! I clearly remember my wife saying, “Do not worry! We serve a mighty God and He will provide!”
The four years of high school passed so fast ... our children just completed their senior year. As each month has passed, our concern about the money needed for college has increased!
Our search for the college that would fit them best began last year when they were juniors. Both wanted to attend the same university – which made the challenge somewhat easier. We all did lots of research online, sought advice from others, and narrowed the choices down. And we also took weekend trips to view campuses personally.
Filling out applications for entrance was a tedious and time-consuming (as well as expensive) process. And so was gathering all the information that had to be submitted in order to qualify for financial aid.
Our children were both accepted by six universities around the country. But one Christian university located in another state captured our attention. The school offered very good scholarships to our children and also invited our family to spend a weekend on their campus.
From the moment of arriving, we were so impressed with how everything pointed to God. The architecture, the activities, and the faculty and staff all contributed to the Godly atmosphere. We attended an inspired worship service in the university’s chapel. All of us felt so blessed during that weekend that we developed a great desire to send our children to study there.
Later on, the school interviewed our children by phone and increased the scholarship amount that was being offering. We were overjoyed, but the remaining costs - times two - still were overwhelming!
So we increased our prayers and enlisted the Prayer Team at The Fellowship to come alongside us in lifting our need before the Lord. A few weeks ago (since we were sequestered at home during this pandemic), my wife and I also started a fasting campaign. Our prayers were bombarding heaven!
One day my wife was talking with a friend from church about the scholarship challenge. The friend suggested, “Why not write a letter to the directors of the university, telling them your story and asking for more scholarship money?” At that moment, I had a clear impression that God was speaking to us through her.
The following day I spent six hours writing and rewriting a letter that in one page summarized our story and requested more financial aid. The letter ended up in the hands of the vice president of the university. We have just received the awesome news that additional scholarship money was granted to our children. Our joy and thanksgiving overflow!
God never fails! He was, He is and forever will be good! This fall, our children will start their new journey. We are already missing them, but the assurance of the blessings of God over our family comforts us and fills us with peace as we let them go. May God be glorified in their lives, and may the light of Jesus ever shine through them!
A Grateful Father
… “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God has prepared
for those who love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9