We Cannot Repay You

There is absolutely nothing we can do to repay God for His goodness and love for us, but there is certainly something we must do, and He expects us to.

“What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.”

–Psalm 116:12–14 (NLT)

Growing up in a poor country and raised in a middle-class pastor’s family, money was always a topic of conversation. I remember many occasions where my parents prayed for God to provide something, not only for us, but for others. There was always a friend, a neighbor, or a brother or sister in Christ who was in great need.

Our church, though poor, was full of loving and faithful people. The church building was under construction for most of my childhood and teen years. It seemed that our needs were always much greater than the resources in hand, but this taught me a great deal. It taught me about God’s providence, love, and generosity.

Our dinner table always had extra space for people who arrived at our home just before dinner time to discuss “important matters” with my father. On more than one occasion, it was my father who invited a new friend that he just met to eat with us. We never expected to be repaid.

There is a saying in Mexico for when there is not a lot of food and an unexpected guest arrives: “Hechale mas agua al caldo de frijoles,” which translates to: “Add more water to the bean soup.”  I am so grateful that our home was an open place for many to come, not just for food and good conversation, but also to hear about Jesus, His love, and His salvation. If you ask me why I love hosting now, I would tell you it’s simply because I grew up in a house that didn’t have a door—metaphorically speaking.

Looking back to where everything started, I’m overwhelmed when I see how God always met our needs. Our prayers were answered, many in an even greater way than we expected. We experienced the truth of Philippians 4:19, which says,“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

My heart is filled with joy! There is no way we can repay God for all His goodness to us, but we can do what the psalmist declares in the verses cited above. Today, I invite you to fill your cup with Jesus’ blessings and to vow, along with me, to be a living testimony of thanksgiving and gratitude for who God is and what He has done for us!

Alejandra Rivera

Alejandra is a pastor’s wife who serves as a women’s director, Bible teacher, and worship leader at her local church. She is part of the Hispanic Eastern District Alliance Women’s team and is an engineer, working as a program manager for a tech company. Alejandra lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Jonathan, and their two sons, Matthew, and Daniel.

Three Responses to “We Cannot Repay You”

  1. Love it that’s the same way I grew up. My mother didn’t have much but she was always feeding everyone.

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