My husband entered the room to discover me shaking on the bed. I offered a wobbly smile as he noted tears and mascara had stained the pillowcase.
Rushing to my side, he asked, “Stefanie, what’s wrong?”
One of our monthly bills had increased, again. He was a full-time graduate student, and I was a stay-at-home mom of two children under five. It was just four months before graduation, and we were running out of money. I had shielded him from my growing financial concerns as long as I dared. He already had a job offer; we were just awaiting the announcement of his start date.
“Come, we’ll figure this out.”
I knew the most obvious solution and I was ready for it. But I needed to wait for him to get there too.
First, we prayed together. We knew if God wasn’t in this, we would never make it. Then he cracked joke after joke. My chest relaxed and my sides ached from laughter. We recounted every blessing in our seven-year marriage. We listed how God had never failed us in the impossible scenarios. We prayed again, late into the night, then amazingly, went to sleep.
The next morning, together we began a job search for me. A job that was weekends only until his graduation. The cost of childcare would negate my nursing wages back in 2004.
As I interviewed and started shifts a few weeks later, I marveled at how my agony had switched to trust.
As we awaited all the answers, recounting His faithfulness had sustained both of us. We found truth in both Lamentations 3:23 and Psalm 94:19. God’s blessings are new every morning. His faithfulness is great. And when I’m consumed with concerns, God’s history of showing up eases my mind and lightens my heart.
I worked full-time after my husband’s graduation. His original start date was six months away. As I worked that summer, I kept praying for an influx of business so he’d need to start sooner. The third week of July, he got that call. His employer requested he start August 1! God not only bridged the gap, He shortened the timeline as well!
Back in January, lying on that bed in tears, I could not imagine how God would work it all out. But, He’s God. Of course, I couldn’t fathom it!
How about you? Can you point to where God came through? A history of God’s great care? Maybe you’re new to faith and can’t think of anything right now, no worries! God will show up – not always in the way you expect- but you’ll look back and realize He most certainly did!
If you’re in a place of pleasant recounting, please share your story! If you’re in that strenuous place of waiting, hang onto Jesus. He does have you! Ask for prayer- from me, and other believers as well. God promises He sees. He promises to supply our needs. Let’s ask Him for just that.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, You see. You know the needs out there today. Not just physical, financial, or emotional, but the need to be seen and known by You. Lord, we pray for faith for our dear brothers and sisters hanging on by a thread. We know You’ll take that single worn yarn and weave it into a beautiful tapestry- a mantle of faith to be passed down to future generations. Thank You Lord for Your great faithfulness! In Jesus’ name, Amen.