Eagle Lake is better than cake.

And that says a lot coming from me – I love cake.

But cake does not compare to a place where God blew my perspective on how and when He works.

It was one of those nights – chilly, a cabin of 10 year old girls full of a million questions about the next day, and of course a sick camper. I threw out a topic to discuss amongst the cabin and Jessica–my sweet, sick camper and I–started the walk toward the infirmary. Jessica was incredibly kind and full of life. As we walked I felt a nudge from God to ask Jessica what she was learning from God at camp.

Honestly, I did not really want to ask. First, I was tired and cold, and probably a little grumpy. Second, I struggled to believe that a ten year old would really have much to answer back. Do ten year olds really listen to God? Does God really speak to ten year old hearts?

I decided to get over it and ask because we still had quite the walk ahead.

“Jessica, what are you learning from God here at camp?”

“Oh well, I think he wants me to be a missionary when I grow up.”

What? What kind of answer was that? God was telling this girl to be a missionary? The answer was so random and unexpected, it caught me off guard.

And what did I do? I doubted her heart. Yeah right, like God talks to ten year olds about being a missionary. So I asked another question.

“Well, you’re ten, so what will you do until you can become a missionary?”

“Oh, well, there is this Muslim girl in my school. I’m going to be her friend and share Jesus with her.”

Forget cake – I was eating a big ol’ slice of humble pie.

In that moment God revealed through a conversation with a ten year old just how small my view was of Him. I doubted God’s ability and desire to work in significant ways in the heart of someone so young.

I knew Eagle Lake provided a place for kids to hear the Gospel and to learn encouraging verses about God, but in that moment I discovered how much bigger God’s ability and plans were to transform lives – no matter how young. Not only were campers receiving truth about salvation from week to week, but God was also truly moving in hearts to follow Him in ways I didn’t think kids even understood. 

God used little Jessica and the story He was writing on her heart to expand my view of Him and how He works. I felt a little like Job when he realized more of the exceeding greatness of God in Job 40:4, “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.” I needed to put my hands over my mouth and start giving more attention to the God who is able to do all things. 

John 5:17 says, “My Father is always at work to this very day, and I too am working.” God is always at work and is doing immeasurably more than we could ever imagine. Nothing is too hard for Him, and His love no one can fathom. There is no one too little, too young, too small for the Lord to be working in and through so that He may be glorified and the Gospel may be advanced.

God used Eagle Lake and a ten year old camper to teach me that He is God and He is always at work. Who am I to say what God is or isn’t capable of doing? Who am I to deny his power to make big changes in little hearts?

To this day I remember that walk with humility and fondness. I remember being humbled by seeing God’s mighty hand at work in someone so small and I remember my faith growing in a God who is able to do anything at anytime in anyone.

Thanks to Eagle Lake, now over a decade later, I can look at my two year old daughter and praise God that even in her smallness, He is able to do a mighty work in her and through her. There is no end to His glory, no end to his might.

Where are YOU believing God isn’t quite big enough to work, or heal, or redeem, or provide today?