In June of 2011, I sat in my favorite chair drinking a cup of coffee when my phone rang and our little world was shifted entirely. The kids were asleep and it was my husband calling. I always love getting to hear his voice in the morning. I answered, excited to talk to him and asked him what he was up to. He told me that he was walking to his car because he had just been laid off. Uhh... Didn't see that one coming.
We had an almost 2 year old and a 5 month old. I stay at home with our kids. I had that moment of sheer panic running through my veins, but the sound of his voice is what broke my heart almost in two. My husband is a hard worker. No one out works him. And he's been given a gift to do the work he does. He came home, I hugged him. We cried a little bit and then did our best to focus on God. We know that God is for us, who can be against us? The next few weeks were about prioritizing our lives. What was essential and what wasn't. We were covered in prayer, prophetic words and encouragement. Our hearts were expectant but our knees were slightly shaky.
6 weeks later, we had a job offer and had "temporarily" landed with my parents in Texas while our house was on the market. When we arrived in Texas, we had 25 dollars between the four of us and bucketloads of hope.We thought for sure we would be there a short time, 3 months- tops. One year later, our house had not sold. But, it had been broken into and many of our things were stolen. That sucked. There's no other way to describe that one. It felt like it was insult added to injury. We were away from our dear friends, our own space, and were living in the temporary. It was hard. It was really hard. And sometimes those bucketloads of hope felt like barely enough to fill a teacup. But we dug into God's word and white-knuckled the promises of God.
Through a job loss, a foreclosure, two new jobs, a move, and car accident that left us with one vehicle-I can tell you that God is still good. His heart towards us is that of a kind and loving Father. He protected us in many ways that we were only able to see later. I don't know why our house didn't sell when we needed it to. I don't know why Scott lost his job- But I do think He was protecting us. I don't know why the person that ran into Scott took off without stopping. But I do know that God's hand covered over my husband that day, and he walked away without a scratch on his body. Scott and I believe everything that happened is and was being turned to work for our good- as much as it hurt in the process.
We can look back now and say that we wouldn't have traded that time in our lives. It has brought us closer together as a couple and as a family. I can honestly say that there's nothing short of sin that our family wouldn't do for us. I have abundant admiration for my husband. I learned so much about him in this relatively short period of time. He loves me sacrificially and with a servants heart, as Christ loves the church. I am completely convinced that the past almost 2 years have changed the face of our marriage. In a really amazing way. I've also learned the importance of rest during times of chaos. When chaos screams in our face, that's when God wants us to rest in Him. He is our shepherd leading us beside the still waters. That doesn't mean that there aren't wolves or lions roaming around looking for a nice fluffy sheep to devour. It simply means that HE is with us, and he will beat back the darkness as we commune with Him. He will protect us as we rest and drink deeply from the still waters of his heart.
Here's my point in writing all of this. It's not to gain sympathy or air out the things we've walked through- It's to encourage those of you that are walking through something that is much bigger than anything you've been through before. Grab a hold of Jesus, keep watching for his Glory to appear. It always does. Dig into his word, speak it out over yourself and let it sink down deep into your heart. As the 23rd psalm says, Jesus prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies. That's not just for show. He intends for you to sit down and eat with Him in the midst of whatever you're facing. Trust Him with whatever situation it is, fan into flame the spirit that lives inside of you. And if it's barely burning, then come alongside a brother or sister and let them help spark inside of you what God has planted. God bless!
John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.
3 He refreshes and
restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness
[uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for
His name’s sake.
4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with [a]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and
unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the
length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my
dwelling place.
Just a few precious memories of what life was like right before we started on this different road. God has blessed us like crazy. I'm so thankful.
And here's a recent one of our precious family of 5!
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