Be anxious for nothing

A little more than a year ago, Chris was getting laid off.  We had several weeks warning and my worry was so much worse during this waiting than during the actual lay-off.  We were already broke, with no hope of saving anything up during his last stretch working.  Our bills were already past due and it was Christmas time.  I started worrying BADLY.  Chris kept reassuring me that God had good plans for us, plans to prosper, blah, blah, blah....and I pointed out that if he were laid off, our house would be taken away from us.  It would be in the papers that we couldn't pay our taxes.  As I said it out loud, I realized that the humiliation and inconvenience of that COULD actually be God's plans for my best.

I was terrified of God's best.

What if He had a lesson for me to learn through that?  I realized that I obviously needed a lesson in pride.  I let my anxieties go and embraced God's plan, whatever it might be.

And then Chris was laid off.

His lay-off was suddenly projected to only last a month and they let him cash out his new year's vacation pay (3 weeks!) at once, paying off our bills.  During his time off, people anonymously gave us money...to the point that we were feeling guilty because we didn't NEED as much as they were giving.  One day, a package came in the mail and it was a stuffed bear with a scroll tucked into it's scarf.  I unrolled the scoll in front of the kids and it was five $20 bills taped together.  I turned and pointed out the window and the kids saw the two flat tires on the van in the driveway.  And they were able to physically SEE that God provides.  I wouldn't trade that lesson for job security.

Sometimes His provisions are NOT what we think we want, but they are always what He knows we need.  

Not only did we survive that time just fine, we were able to get out of debt....during a lay-off!  

But the coolest thing, for me, was knowing that if it hadn't gone that way - if we lost our house and lived in someone's basement - we would still know that we were in God's hands and I could honestly say that there was no place else I'd rather be.

Be anxious about nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6, 7

Pin It