Today I prayed and opened up the bible to a familiar passage in Jeremiah. Memories and feelings came flooding back. It is such a blessing to remember how far God has carried me.
The bible verse reminded of what was happening in our lives 11 years ago. My husband’s contract was not renewed, so he didn’t have a job. We felt devastated. We didn’t know how we were going to pay our bills and take care of our small children. With all the recent government RIFs, layoffs and the current shut down approaching 31 days, I am sure this resonates with many people.
Looking back, it was hard to get through that time, but we did. Our faith grew. When the whole world was falling apart around us, God was the constant.
God doesn’t change. God is the beginning and the end. Nothing surprises God.
We weren’t following God very well back then. We went to church, but we didn’t put our entire trust in God. In the midst of the uncertainty, we were a wreck. My sister-in-law called us with this verse, Jeremiah 29:11, saying God put it on her heart to share it with us. We listened and read that verse over and over for hope through the 7 months.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
—Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
One night I had a dream that 2 strong hands touched my head and said “its going to be ok.” I know it was Jesus. I felt peace and saw a scene of my daughter and I looking out windows of an unfamiliar house (which we would own in the future), while I heard my husband and son in the background. It was going to be Spring. My husband would get a job in the Spring. That was a long way away, and I could not imagine how we would get through this until Spring.
God carried us through the next 7 months. It was not easy. I went back to work full time to get health benefits. My husband kept applying to jobs. I had an emergency surgery. My dad passed away on Christmas Eve.
We had a choice to trust in God or try to handle all of this on our own. We chose to trust in God. It was tough to let go and truly rely on God. After 7 months, my husband had a job interview on April 7. It was a 7 hour interview! He got hired and started 7 days later. We sold our house and moved to a new state. It wasn’t over. I stopped working. If we were trusting in God, we had to go all in! That first year was shaky. My husband worked long hours, while I figured out how to be the stay at home mom that I always wanted to be. I used to pray everyday that we could stay in the house.
God always has a plan for our good. Over the next 7 years, we were led to a new church that read the bible cover to cover. We went on Sundays and Wednesdays. We were in awe of way the bible was explained. My husband filled up notebook, after notebook taking notes. The number 7 has a biblical symbolism of divine fulfillment or significance of completion. During those years, my mom died from a brain tumor on Christmas day. As I mourned her loss, COVID shut down the world. I felt God called me to homeschool, so I did until our church opened up a brand new Christian school. We applied, and praise God, our kids were accepted.
Looking back at where we were 11 years ago, I see God’s goodness all over our lives. We didn’t deserve any of it. God showed us mercy and grace. We followed God and everything fell into place. It was not luck. It was God’s plan for us, and it is amazing!
If you are willing to fully trust in God with your whole heart, God has a plan for your life. It is so good!
God meets you where you are at, so I encourage you to start now. Pray to God. Open your bible and ask God to show you what He wants you to know today. Your heart can feel peace, not evil. God has future plans for our lives, brimming with hope and peace.
Sing Your Praises!
Embrace This Beautiful Life 