Uncertainty

 

“I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, so that all the families of the earth may receive blessing through you.”  Genesis 12:3

 This morning we found out that after more than 25 years with his company, my husband was laid off. We had several conversations this morning, prayed together multiple times (I am so blessed to have a husband that loves the Lord!), and still we both are in more than a little shock. My husband left to have a meeting about a prospective job opportunity, and I sat down to finally do my Bible study. I never have to wonder if God has a plan, or if He has put things together with intentional timing, because I have seen it first hand so often, and today was one of those times. Here’s an excerpt from the devotional for today that sounded like it was written directly to me:

“Just like Abram, we often find ourselves walking through seasons of uncertainty, not knowing what the future holds. But the same God who made promises to Abram is the same One who makes promises to us. He is faithful and true. We can trust that He is working for our good no matter what we face in life. While we many not always see it at the moment, His blessings are woven into the fabric of our lives – both now and in eternity.”

 God’s fingerprints are all over this situation. The timing is incredible. We just returned from a major vacation that would have been cancelled, or at least seriously rethought, had we known two weeks earlier. But God knew how important this trip was, He blessed it abundantly, and He wanted us to have it. My husband has been toying with the idea of a career change for some time now, and things are coming together in the area he is most interested in quickly at the moment. In fact, he’s at a meeting discussing possibilities on this front as I type this. Financially, we’re in a healthy position without debt and we have many areas we can easily scale back in to adjust to a new level of income. Our kids are grown, their schooling is complete, many fronts are covered.

 So where does the uncertainty come in? My health. Over the last two years, our insurance has covered more than a million dollars in medical bills. The future doesn’t look cheaper either. It’s times like these that I wish those helpful souls that suggest that yoga and essential oils could cure me were right! As I was searching for a picture for this post, I encountered the one I chose at the top. It was from this day in 2023, 2 years ago. I had just finished emergency surgery to clean out an infection headed for my brain and repair a CSF leak that had developed from my first brain surgery just three weeks prior. I didn't know that I had two weeks ahead of me in the Neuro ICU. I didn't know I was in for 12 weeks of IV antibiotics that would make me terribly ill. I didn't know when this picture was taken that that very night I would experience the most pain of my entire life, the one and only time I would claim a level "10." But you know what I know? God’s got it. He is Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals. He is Jehovah-Jireh, my provider. He knew this too was coming, it is no surprise to Him, and He already accounted for it in His perfect plan. In fact, this may be exactly what we need to move us into the next season He has for us!

 Ok, so how does all this relate back to our scripture for today? This was a promise that God made to Abram when he was leaving his home, his country, and everything he knew to go to the place God would show him, but he didn’t know in advance. I feel a sense of kinship with Abram today! Just as God promised to bless and provide for Abram, He has promised the same to me, to all of us that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)

Here’s the Thing: I don’t know what God has next for us, but I know that He does and it is good.