Guest Blogger: Holly Ham

This week started out like most others. It was Wednesday and I was plugging along with the normal routine of my family. Put on the coffee, get breakfast going, and out the door to drop my four year old off for his last full day of preschool this year. With the preschooler happily left to play with his friends and learn from his wise teachers, I headed home with my two year old. Quite content to sit back and sip some coffee and spend some one-on-one time with the youngest. Things were just "business as usual".

I should've known better.

It seems to be the pattern in my life that just when things get comfortable things are about to turn around and get a little shaky. Our next roller coaster ride came in the form of a phone call from the bank. The nice lady on the other line informed me she was calling to verify some unusual purchases from our checking account. This would include two very large amounts spent at a pharmacy in Canada. When I informed her that no, we did not order any drugs from Canada, she calmly informed me that while that was unfortunate, there were now "policies" that had to be followed.

This would now inconvenience me in the following ways: I need to call and file a police report with my local PD, I need to drive to my local bank branch and fill out some forms, and oh, by the way, the purchases were so large that now your account is overdrawn and will not be back above the red line until their investigation is complete. Immediately this would dictate my mood for the entire day.

I was grumpy, feeling sorry for myself, and aggravated. But as the day wore on I began to hear what I can only say was God speaking to me. It went a little something like this. Why are you letting this situation have so much control over you? Don't you know I will take care of you? I love you and you do not need to be afraid. I am bigger than this. And as I sat and reflected on this a little more I began to calm down. In my state of panic I failed to recognize that, although this is scary and annoying, I am blessed beyond measure. My cabinets are comfortably stocked with food. I have clean water to drink!! So many people in this world pray EVERYDAY for their DAILY bread!! And even if my refrigerator was bare I am surrounded by friends and family that would jump in and provide meals and some cash if need be!

I will leave you with these verses that God also brought to mind. I highlighted them in my Bible awhile back and it's a Message Paraphrase.

"When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst. Why? Because the Master won't ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense. He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way. " Lamentations 3:25-33

Comments

[Minta]

Thanks for the awesome post, Holly!