Those of you who have been following this blog for a year–may remember my bathroom challenge! Last year I was faced with the necessity of redo my bathroom due to cracked and missing grout which led to mold etc. I started praying with what I came to think of as “negative faith”…starting in the minus section. But praying I did–asking Our Dear God who is the husband of the widow to help me figure out what to do and how to do it. His miraculous solution was to send an old friend from Florida who spear-headed the work and now I have a wonderful clean and healthy bathroom.
So this years challenge is the exterior of my house needed painting. This is something I have put off for many years–going next year I will really do it. I talked with my family and my daughter Elizabeth offered to do it. I have been struggling with some health issues which has caused me to be tired and weary, so even though she offered to do the job, I felt a bit overwhelmed, well a lot overwhelmed. This is where and why I love His Word. As I was dealing with these emotions I came across these scriptures in Isaiah 41:14-16 Do you feel like lowly worm, Jacob? Don’t be afraid. Feel like a fragile insect, Israel? I’ll help you. I, God, want to reassure you. The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel, I’m transforming you from worm to harrow, from insect to iron, As a sharp-toothed harrow you’ll smooth out the mountains, turn those tough old hills into loamy soil. You’ll open the rough ground to the weather, to the blasts of sun and wind and rain. But you’ll be confident and exuberant, expansive in the Holy of Israel!
Just reading those few lines gave me a can-do spirit and I began to see how it could be done. My fifteen year old grandson, Aaron offered to come and help during his only vacation week from football practice. We worked together–even Elizabeth’s children (11, 9, 7 and 5) all helped scrub and even did some painting. My house is transformed. We still need to do the trim, and we will get that done, but just like my bathroom project, God sent the right people for the job.
Maybe you don’t have a physical project that is trying to overwhelm you, but maybe it is financial, emotional or relational. Those situations are the exact transforming challenges that God desires to help you go from lowly worm to a sharp-toothed harrow. He wants to use us to change the landscape of our environment for His Kingdom sake. How amazing is it to allow Him to use us in such a manner.
I did some painting, helped feed the workers and to be honest, but also had to take some rest time. I had to trust my daughter and her family desires to help me by using the gifts they have been given. It was a joy to have my grandson here, interacting with his cousins and setting an example for them. When my 11 year old asked to paint, I thought why not? But when my daughter set up the 7 year old? I was a bit apprehensive…but she did a great job. They all felt pride in their work–even the 5 year old painted for a few minutes, until she realized it wasn’t as fun as she thought. My project was not just about me. It was an opportunity for my grandchildren to learn to work and help others. My daughter is very good at painting (like her dad).
Maybe your project seems overwhelming because you have not let others in on it–and asked the Lord for His solution. It was a bit humbling to have to need their help–but it was also such a blessing to let them express their love to me through these actions. I am very grateful for my adult children and their care for me. Not everyone has such a blessing, but you still have a God who loves you and will send help from His sanctuary. Look up, dear friends, our help comes from the Lord!
Faith Encounters 