Immeasurably More

Major Valerie Kahn, program secretary for The Salvation Army Massachusetts Divisional Headquarters, talks about how the Army’s work in Jamaica helped direct her future, being reminded of the first time she met her husband, and following God’s guidance. 

When I was 17, I was a timbrelist for our Salvation Army divisional youth band. We took a trip to Jamaica to perform, and of course, as a teenager on a tropical island, I was having the time of my life. But when we arrived at a school for the blind and deaf run by The Salvation Army, the trip became more. I had grown up in the church, but I didn’t know there were schools like this. I wept as I saw the Army’s ministry to these children, who were all just a little younger than I was. It was at this school, which still operates today, that God first spoke to me and said that I would be a teacher. I’ve always welcomed teaching as part of my ministry because of that pivotal moment.

As I was preparing to go to the College for Officer Training, I was chosen to be the session representative who’d address the cadets at our welcome event. As I read the letter informing me about my 15 minutes to speak, I heard God say that my future husband would be there. I’d already decided I did not want to be a single officer, but I tucked away that promise. It wasn’t something that preoccupied me. Eventually, I was introduced to a second-year cadet named Elijah Kahn, and we began dating. Years later I remembered Elijah shaking my hand and complimenting me after I spoke. In all the excitement that day, I hadn’t really registered our interaction. God’s promise came true—my husband had been there all along, listening to me talk. 

Life is full of moments that are so out of your control, you have no choice but to let God handle them. My father, a Salvation Army officer, did not realize his own internal preju­dices until I began dating Elijah, who is Black. He did not approve and said I’d be ruining my life by marrying him. The man saying these things was not the man I knew, but this was between God and him. We had people praying for our family, but it was my father who needed to change. Today, my father loves Elijah and our two daughters. He’s grateful we never gave up on him. He asked for and received forgiveness from his son-in-law, who always remained kind and respectful to him. Through God and Elijah’s forgiveness, my father saw what I knew: Getting married wouldn’t ruin my life. It was the best thing to ever happen to me.

When God calls, it feels as real as if He was standing next to me. During another difficult time, He came to me with these words: “I am always aware of you. I know what brings you joy, what breaks your heart, and I am with you all the time. I know where you are, how you are, and what you are struggling with every moment of every day. I love you and care about you.” I immediately went to write it down, and I go back to that quote and that moment in times of worry and discouragement. When I received notice of our new appointment in Massachusetts, it was a bit of a shock. God sent me a similar message as before, but in simpler words: “Look at all the times I’ve given you peace.” 

Elijah and I printed Ephesians 3:20–21 on our wedding program. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” God has plans we would never expect. I share my life because I want my life to be a testament to God and the work He can do within us.