By: Nina Bueno
Over this past Christmas break, I was suddenly hit with a desire that was so strong, I couldn’t seem to let it go. I sat on my bed late at night, wondering what in the world had gotten into me.
At the time, I was not impulsive; I didn’t make decisions without planning, and I did not go forward until everything was laid out before me. Yet, God had suddenly placed a desire on my heart. With everything against me: finances, time, family plans and even the lack of planning in general, it felt impossible.
But over the preceding weeks and months, God had been showing me what it was like to live life without everything planned out, without a 10-year plan, or even a day-by-day schedule sometimes. God had been showing me what it was like to live life with Him— to simply cherish and experience my life in the present with God.
So, there I was over Christmas break, four days away from the start of Generation of Youth for Christ (GYC), with this sudden desire planted in my heart by God: to attend GYC. Why I hadn’t planned to go before the last minute, I don’t know. Maybe I forgot. But I believe that God brought me there at the last minute to teach me that even when things look impossible, He will provide. Even when I have no plans, God will still bring me to His end goal. Even when I couldn’t see the way, I could learn to see the invisible One who was with me.
And so, I began to see God’s provision as I put my trust in Him. Things aligned perfectly so that I could attend GYC. Over Friday night and the Sabbath before GYC, I talked with my parents and prayed.
By Sunday evening, I had cheap housing and a plane ticket, and my family was completely open to me going. My usual doubts and fears started creeping in. Did I have enough money for registration? What if my housing fell through at the last minute? What if there was a snowstorm and I couldn’t fly out of Canada?
By Monday, I still hadn’t registered for the conference because I was worried that something would fall through. I wanted to take the wheel and be able to control the outcome. I wanted to set my expectations so I wouldn’t be disappointed.
But I had to remember: God was in charge. Even if He was invisible, He was leading. I couldn’t have planned it out in a cheaper way, especially at the last minute. He was the one who had given me the desire and He would fulfill it.
On Monday afternoon, my brother let me know about someone who was selling five early-bird registration tickets. I thought there was no way I’d be able to get one. But we found out that the guy had a few left, and once again, God provided. I was able to purchase the last ticket he had—for a lot cheaper than the price of late registration.
After that, everything happened so fast. My brother and I packed for GYC (God provided at the last minute for him, too, but that’s another story!), hopped on a plane and landed in Orlando Wednesday night—the last day of the year and the first day of GYC.
I ended 2025 and began 2026 with a deep impression on my heart and mind. I had seen the Invisible at work.
Throughout GYC, God continued to show up for me in huge ways, confirming my faith, convictions and impressions He had given me in the past. Every day, I began with the expectation of seeing and learning something new about the invisible God I had come to desire more than anything else. And He provided. Just like the children of Israel in the wilderness with manna, God continued to provide exactly what I needed for each day.
In the book of Exodus, God constantly provided for His people and showed up for them. Moses especially had an immense amount of faith and trust in God, even in the face of the constant grumbling and opposition of the Israelites in the wilderness. This was because he had been through the wilderness himself. Moses had learned to trust God’s provision in His own life and had seen the Invisible.
I’ve been in and still am in a wilderness season in my life right now. I have no idea what my 10-year plan is. Some days I live simply from class to class, open to what the Lord has in store. And other days I grumble and ask the Lord how He will provide, even though He’s shown me time and time again that He will.
But time and time again, God reminds me of the lessons He taught me this past break. If He gives me a desire, He will fulfill it. If I trust Him, He will provide. Even in the wilderness, the cloud and fire are there to guide me and remind me that the Invisible is with me. It doesn’t matter where He leads me to go—as long as I’m with Him.
As you read this testimony, I hope you are filled with a sense of God’s provision. I hope that as you look at your own life, you will see the Invisible at work, because He is there.
His greatest desire is for a relationship with you and to experience life with you. I pray that will become your greatest desire, too—a life with God where each day, He provides exactly what you need, and you see a little bit more of the Invisible.
“And God said, ‘I will be with you’” (Exodus 3:12, NIV).
