What Are You Doing, God? ~ Guest Post by Gentle Joy

 "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."

Psalm 56:3

    We are living in a time of uncertainty and confusion that goes way beyond anything most of us have ever seen before. The news is grim, the attitudes of many people are hateful and frantic, businesses are closed, jobs lost, and the threat of sickness hovers. Then there are the words of those wondering what is really going on in our world.  Is someone at fault? Will our freedoms be lost forever? And more….   So many reasons to fear and panic as we wonder what the truth is, will things ever get back to normal, and will we lose someone we love?

    Years ago, our 2nd son was born with medical problems. It was a time of great fear as his life hung in the balance.  There was much uncertainty as we learned to trust God in a new way, and those lessons have continued. With six kids, four of them boys, there were many times of fear as someone did something daring and got hurt in some little or big accident that happened. Though I tried to control things so that no one ever got hurt, that just didn’t work because sometimes kids fall off bikes or do things that don’t turn out as they expected. God was teaching me more ways to trust Him even as I was teaching my kids to be wiser.

   In the last couple of years, life has presented further challenges that severely tested us, and I thought at times there was no way through it. Much of that is still a day to day walk in unknown territory and again, God is teaching us to trust. More recently, we had a big unpleasant surprise bill after my husband’s retirement said they overpaid him and that we would also lose many thousands in all future checks. After we figured out it was for real, the panic set in, as we live our frugal lives and don’t have lots extra. 

We quickly started selling what we could to pay the mortgage payment and cut costs where possible.  We were still waiting for word on that when the coronavirus stuff happened. I sell things in two shops in antique malls and was able to help make the house payment with help from our kids and others, also.  Then my husband was laid off from his current job because of the coronavirus crisis. My shops also had to close. 

Hmmm… what to do? Fear?  Panic?  Yes, those certainly visited, but God is again teaching us to trust Him, and we are.   Over the years, God has shown Himself utterly faithful in every situation, and my faith has grown more and more, sometimes quite painfully.

Many years ago, I was a college student working to finish my degree in Elementary Education.  I also worked several hours a week to help pay college expenses. Knowing I would have six weeks of student teaching at a school quite a ways away, I saved as much money as I could from the little I made, to pay for gas, food, and other expenses for those six weeks. I was thankful I had been able to save $200 and figured that would be plenty if I was careful with it. Saving that much was a big relief to me, and I felt all ready to do the time of teaching, though I was still nervous to face the new responsibility.

   Just before the six weeks started, the brakes on my little blue Chevette gave out and had to be fixed. The bill came to $200! Not $199.95 or $210, but EXACTLY $200, which was what I had saved and was counting on. It felt like God was saying to me, I want you to trust ME not your own plans, and it was a lesson that has stuck with me.  It was also a lesson I have been reminded of many times in life, though it wasn’t a lesson I only had to learn once. Sigh….  God has reinforced it many times.  I did get through the student teaching just fine and don’t remember the details of how, making me wish I had recorded the ways God provided at that time.  I do better at doing that now. 

 So, here we are in this current frightening time, and all of those lessons over the years are bearing fruit. We are trusting God and reminding each other to do so, though we have to adjust our thoughts sometimes, also. God is always faithful, and He has our future all mapped out, with reasons for what He allows. 

   In this current time of owing the retirement company money, having many thousands less a year of retirement payments, losing my husband’s salary, losing my ability to sell in the shops or on Craigslist, and yet still having bills coming in, we came up with a plan. We decided to reduce our living expenses even more and get a big garden planted which we have started.  We are keeping lights minimal, plan to dry some laundry outside, do canning this summer, and lots more. We are counting on our peach trees, apple tree, blueberry bushes, eggs from our ducks, herbs, and more. Then today,  after many days of beautiful spring weather, we are getting an ice storm, everything is coated in ice, and it is below freezing.  Another blow…. and we wonder, What are you doing, God? You know we love You and are trusting You. Why is life so hard?

In my thoughts I hear those words from long ago, “I want you to trust ME, not your own plans.”  As my husband and I walked to view the damage so far, we hugged and were reminded that God has a plan, and we need to trust Him. His plans are perfect. He is my hope, my strength, my strong tower, and though I am weak and can panic or worry, He lovingly draws my attention back to His promises. It is amazing that when I affirm my love for Him in thankfulness, when I focus on the blessings He gives, and trust Him, those doubts and fears are not nearly so big.  I continue to grow and am so thankful for His lessons for me, although I would not want to go through them a second time!   

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”  Job 13:15

   So, in the midst of more trouble, I am reminded that we are to put on the whole armour of God. The attacks of the enemy will come, but we can walk in belief and trust in the goodness of our God, knowing that He has a plan for our life. If bad things come, He will walk through them with us and give us strength.  God is good, and His ways are perfect. 

I am also reminded that this world is not my home, and I have a home waiting in heaven. Many do not know Him and don’t have that home waiting.  I am truly blessed, and my heart aches for them.  

It is good to give thanks to the Lord. 

Gentle Joy's Bio:  

I am a Christian wife and recently "retired" homeschooling mom after homeschooling all six of our kids k-12. (Does a homeschooling teacher ever REALLY retire?)  I write two blogs about herbs, gardening, recipes, health and nutrition, saving money, projects, topics to inspire and make us think, photography, and more. I love the Lord and He is continuing to teach me and help me to grow in my walk with Him.

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You can find Gentle Joy's homemaking blog at Gentle Joy Homemaker, and you can visit her photography blog at Gentle Joy Photography where you will find beautiful photos like the ones included in this post.  I hope you can take the time to stop by and visit her and subscribe to her posts! Each one is packed with Godly wisdom.

Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer ~ Keith & Kristyn Getty

I love hearing these stories and testimonies of how God delivered and provided and brought His children through.  Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony."  There is great power in telling what God has done for us, and it brings much-needed encouragement to others, especially in these trying times.  

We would love to hear your testimony of God's goodness, too!  If you would like to share in this series of posts of encouragement, please email your submission to homespundevotions@gmail.com.  

Someone needs to hear your story.  We hope to hear from you!

Keep looking up!