photo © 2005 Joe Anderson | more info (via: Wylio)
Things have been stressful around the FFF household lately. Let me give you the highlight reel of the past week and a half or so:
- Our AC went out (we live in TX…this is a BIG deal)
- Our toilet stopped working and overflowed
- Our washing machine broke mid-load
- I got a flat tire
- Our house payment got lost in the mail
- My parents abruptly moved to South Carolina to help my baby sister with a health issue/job issue (pretty major)
- I had two major disruptions to my day to day blogging (not bad things, but still even good news can add stress) that could have potentially conflicted with each other
- Our vacuum broke
Lots of other small petty things happened as well. You know those small things that normally don’t matter, but when piled on top of everything else it just feels like the final straw?
However, aside from a few moments of anguish and asking my husband to please PLEASE give me something ANYTHING else to think about…I’ve been relatively calm through it all. Taking it as it comes and being proactive where I can while letting the rest lay.
This peace and calm never would have happened a few years ago. Maybe it’s age, but I also think it’s been a choice.
I made the choice that I was going to have faith.
Faith that God doesn’t put things in my path that I can’t handle.
Faith that as long as my family is healthy and alive, it’s all okay.
Faith that there are bigger plans at work then my own and I just need to have a little faith that He knows what is best for me.
I admit, it’s been difficult at times. I’ve dropped to my knees in this past week more then I probably have in months. However, I think those drop to the knees moments are what have made everything else easier.
It’s amazing what a little faith can do.
I’m a Christian, I’ve never hidden that and I proudly stand by it. If you aren’t a Christian, of course I’d like you to explore Christianity…but if not that’s your choice. Peace comes differently to different people in different ways. So I encourage you to have a little faith the next time something comes up that seems insurmountable. Faith in your God, faith in yourself, faith in the universe. Just trust that it will all work out. Does it always? Of course not, but you know what?
You have two choices:
- You remain miserable and feel stuck in your predicament
- You have a little faith and just be as proactive as you can
So this week, just have a little faith. Oh, and sometimes…when things get this out of control? You just have to laugh about it. That’s helps too ;)
Note: I’ve had some really horrible things happen in my life. Huge losses and horrible life changing moments, so I know it’s not always *that* easy. In no way would I ever try and trivialize life’s biggest disasters. However, in our day to day lives when things go awry and pile up…I think it’s okay to just laugh and have a bit of faith. It’s certainly easier then the alternatives.
What a week! Sometimes all you can do is laugh. :loopy:
Totally! Yes, and I’m very ready to have an easy week now thank you!
Hi Heather,
Sorry to hear about your week! WOW! I am glad that God is in control, and that somehow, all the stuff you went through, had a grand purpose. Hopefully, part of heaven will be learning how all of our life events have worked together for good! I pray you have a better week!
Thanks Kimberly! I hope we have a better week as well!
This year I have learned this lesson and actually taken it to heart more than I ever have in the past and it has been a blessing. True faith can be a blessing of peace in times when you really need some. If I trust in God and am working hard and doing things I need to do then problems seem to become a lot smaller than they would have in the past.
I totally agree. Things that once seemed insurmountable seem like specks in the grand scheme!
Oh Heather, I can completely relate! With our old home being unexpectedly left vacant only 2 weeks after closing on our new home in TX, every other issue seemed to be double whammy to our checkbook. I’ve really struggled these past 3 months to understand why He has put us through this and even gave up having hope that He would bring us through. The past couple of weeks at every turn He’s been telling me that He’s still there and still in control. Like you, my friends and readers have inspired me to keep going and have lifted me up through prayer. He is in control of the big and little things in my life, and in the grand scheme of things it won’t matter that I had to go to the laundromat or deal with a finicky dishwasher. What matters is that He was glorified by my not spending money we didn’t have to buy new ones, and the witness that was to others. Thanks for being another reminder for me this week that he is sovereign and in control of ALL things!
BTW after 3 months, the house in AR got rented last week! You have a great new design too!
So glad it all worked out!!! Thank you for telling me your story of faith!
Wonderful advice. I know that I need to drop to my knees much more often that I do. Thank you for the reminder. :-)
Thanks, I needed to be reminded of those things today. I know God is in control but when times get tough, I allow myself toget stressed instead of have faith. Thanks again.
Choosing to have faith is a good lesson for all of us. Just found your blog and looking forward to reading more.
Oh my gosh!!! It is faith that gets us through! Great post…I too am a Christian and I really appreciate how forward you put your faith out there…when the going gets tough, the tough go to God!!! I broke my foot (3rd time in 5 years…same foot) last Thursday…we’re working through it and yes it could be worst but sometimes you just have to wonder?!?!
Keep the faith!!!