MaryHuntWebb.com

I cried all day on my nineteenth birthday. Although I had a full-time job at the time, it paid little and offered no opportunity for advancement. I wanted to be in college, as my friends from high school were, but I had no money for further education and no hope of getting into a university. I lived with my widowed mother, and neither of us owned a car. We were barely able to pay the rent and buy necessities. My situation seemed hopeless. 
 

However, I had the hope and faith of Hebrews 11:1, which says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (NIV)
Consequently, I studied on my own with books from the library and with books I bought at a store that sold used books. I did that because Mother had always told me to take advantage of all the education I could get. 
 

Similarly, a family friend advised me that knowledge was more valuable than money in the bank because no one could ever take knowledge away from me. She may not have known that her advice replicated that of Solomon in Proverbs 8:10-11, which says, “10) Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; 11) for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” Since we lived near a university campus, I knew that advantages came to those with more education than high school offered. So, on my own, I absorbed history, studied Spanish, and read nonfiction books, including biographies. I did that without knowing that self-directed learning is one of the six methods of instruction, along with lecturing, mentoring, collaboration, hands-on experience, and critical thinking. I also used some of those other methods without knowing I was doing so. Education is not limited to classroom instruction but can be practiced by anyone with the self-discipline to study independently.

I studied in the evenings after work and on weekends while I prayed and saved my money. When I had enough money for one semester’s tuition, I felt God urging me to quit my full-time job and enroll at the nearby university. I did not know that colleges and universities have a policy called “retention” in which they will do everything they can to keep a student from dropping out. They do that because the loss of student population reflects badly on the institution. That step of faith in enrolling lead to loans and grants that enabled me to pursue my university education. I eventually obtained a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. Those didn’t come quickly or easily, but the Lord rewarded my faith.

Prayer: Thank You, dear Lord, for the opportunities that You open up for me. Please give me the wisdom to recognize that they are from You. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

• Bible Verses Used in This Posting:
  Hebrews 11:1 - “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (NIV)
  Proverbs 8:10-11 - “10) Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; 11) for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” (NIV)