During the economic crash of 2008 we, like so many others, almost lost everything–even having an auction date for two days after Christmas placed on our house.
It was a very stressful, scary time. But as I sat crying, praying in my parked car in my dark garage one evening, wondering how we were ever going to survive this mess, these words entered my heart, “If I told you everything was going to work out would you believe me?” I felt the Lord ask, “If I told you everything was going to work out would you find peace?”
After pondering for a moment I answered, “Yes. I would believe you.”
Then, filling me with a gentle yet firm assurance he said, “Everything is going to work out.”
A short time later we were able to secure a modification on our mortgage and our house was saved.
Tuesday night, after deciding to break several toes and my foot by running full force (trying to outrun being attacked with purple chalk powder) into a door jamb, I was able to find peace–even knowing all plans for spring break were now ruined–by applying this lesson. “Everything is going to work out.” I told myself.
But yesterday, after realizing that I had somehow misplaced (completely and utterly lost) all of Jamie’s official documents, I dismissed the Lord’s promise and wallowed in anguish all day. I had my focus set on the one outcome I believed would make everything work out and it wasn’t until I surrendered to other possibilities–less appealing as they may be–and put my trust in the Lord that I was able to find peace.
I believe this is what the Lord wanted to teach me that night in my dark garage so many years ago. Though I’m certain He knew before hand the positive outcome concerning our mortgage, I believe what He really wanted me to understand is that even when things don’t go quite in the way we envision and even had we ended up living in a van down by the river, He has a plan for us and in that plan–one way or another–
everything always works out.