Do you trust Jesus? Most Christians would say yes but when life is not going so well, do you truly trust him to act on your behalf? Do you believe the Father is watching out for you and will step in to help you in any situation? It’s easy to say yes when everything is right with your world but when the inevitable crosses come our way how often do we think that God has forgotten us. This is even true for Jesus who in the darkness of his pain and suffering on the cross cried out to his Father, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:45-47.
I went through 2 such trials. The first was in 2010. I was flipping houses at the time when the banking crises happened. Due to regulation changes and a falling real estate market I couldn’t sell the flip when I finished it. I got an extension on the renovation loan twice and couldn’t get another one. I couldn’t refinance it because it was in an LLC. We had personally guaranteed the loan so if the bank forclosed we would lose our house and everything we owned. I finally got it under contract and then the loan company sent an appraisor from out of town to appraise the house. It came in $20,000 less than the contract price and I knew it was not acurate. I tried another bank to refinance it but they couldn’t do it . The loan officer asked me how I was not having a nervous break down at this point as my original loan was due in a few days. I told her I was trusting in God, he was the only one who could get me out of this. I told the buyer’s loan officer I would not accept the appraisal and wanted it redone with a local appraiser. He told me they were not going to do it and reminded me that the loan was due in three days. I said fine and hung up. My mother who was with me when I got that phone call thought I had lost my mind. I asked Jesus to strengthen me and let it work out as he wanted it to. I told him I trusted him. Two minutes later the loan officer called back and agreed to a new appraisal which came in for the purchase price and we closed the day before the loan was due. That was my biggest lesson in trusting God.
As to my second lesson, and much more important than material things, is happening right now. My hiusband just got diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. It’s pretty scary and we don’t know how it will turn out and I started getting nervous and anxious about it. I was having problems sleeping and was completely stressed out. I prayed and asked Jesus to help me to be strong and trust in him. Suddenly scripture readings at church, songs on the radio, and conversations with others reminded me to put it in Jesus’ hands and trust him. This is far harder than any other trial I have gone through though. Well, I have taken a deep breath and told him I trust him and whatever his will is I know he will see us through it. He always does. Now I’m sleeping so much better but I know my husband’s journey is just beginning and I am sure we will face many stress producing trials in the days ahead. I just need to remember that Jesus is in control and keep turning to him through it all.
