When Push Comes To Shove

We had just purchased our first home. A 1950 cottage with a ton of character, great moldings, high ceilings and oil heat. Our first born daughter was 22 months old. My husband had found a position with a brokerage firm in  our town. "Back in the day" those positions were really competitive. It was a privilege to have gotten the interview much less the job. The one catch? It was 100% commission. It was terrifying. However Robin wanted to trade stocks and bonds as a career. He was confidant that he would succeed. I trusted him and knew he would be successful.  I went back to work while he grew his business.

One day, while we were both at work, our housekeeper thought it was too cold in our home. So I called and had oil delivered. When they came to deliver the oil Doris told the man to fill it up. The service man had left a hand written bill for $400. Equivalent to almost $800 today. I was in absolute panic. I think our entire take home pay at that time was $1000. How would we be able to pay it? Let alone pay our mortgage,  insurance, utilities, nursery school costs, groceries and our babysitter on my salary?

When push comes to shove who do you depend on? Who do you call first? Ask for help first? Do you panic? Or are you calm as you try to figure it out? 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to "Cast all of your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."  I remember reading that as a young mother and thinking "that's awesome but I need real help. Immediately. Like yesterday!".

My mother used to tell my brother and I the story of her Christmas miracle. My grandfather had died and left my grandmother with a 5 year old and a 2 year old to raise during the Depression. My grandmother had no skills. However she was an amazing southern cook. My mother's entire childhood my grandmother would take in boarders and offer them 3 meals a day. Mostly men traveling from the North thru the South looking for work.  My grandmother never had a checking account. She read her bible and did crossword puzzles every day. If the baptist church doors were open Cornelia was there with her two small children in tow.

The Christmas my mother was 5 my grandmother tucked my mother and uncle into bed. She said prayers with them and then told them how much Jesus loved them. She explained to them that there was not enough money to celebrate Christmas that year. Mother talked about it being the darkest, coldest winter of her life. She said my grandmother prayed without ceasing believing the Lord would provide.

On Christmas Eve someone stuck $100 in an envelope in my grandmothers money jar that she kept over the sink. $100 in the late 1930's was a fortune.  I remember asking my mother, every time she would tell the story, what she received for Christmas that year. She always replied with the same answer "You know? I have no idea! Maybe a doll and a tea set.  I just remember that we had witnessed a miracle".

My mother called to talk to her grand-baby and to check in with us. She asked how we were. I told her about the oil bill. I explained how absolutely panicked I was. She said "Lillibet, do you remember how Nana literally had no money left and someone left us $100?" Eyes roll from the first time, know it all, mother from my end of the call. "Yes". "You just need to trust that God will take care of it. You have a wonderful home, beautiful daughter, a job you like and a wonderful husband". She was right. Honestly at 25 years old I wanted to hear "That is terrible how can we help?" I didn't really have time to pray about it nor did I want too. I just needed to be able to pay the debt for the oil.

How often do we push Jesus aside in order to try and resolve our own problems? How's that usually work out for us? (Note Sarcasm). One of several things was happening in my oil scenario:

(1) God was trying to lovingly teach us how to problem solve
(2) God was trying to teach us about blind faith
(3) God was trying to teach us that we were not the solution to our own problems
(4) God was trying to show us that when He's in control there is no place for fear

I don't have a climatic ending to the story. Honestly, I don't remember how we paid for it. And I guess, maybe, that is the point.  Step by step God walked us through building the foundation of our marriage. Of our family. It took a while but through the years we have learned not to panic in the face of adversity. If we do have moments of  panic we seek the council of Godly friends. Those friends are gems in our lives. I can call any one of them, in fact I did it yesterday, and say "I'm facing this. I need  counsel on how to solve this problem biblically". Within minutes my phone and email will be full of scripture to help reconcile the issue.

If we approach problem solving with 100% faith that God will solve it?  He will! It doesn't matter if we don't trust ourselves. My problem yesterday I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I could not solve without bringing my emotions into it. I knew that was a recipe for disaster. We have to trust Him. If we approach problem solving according to His biblical standards? Well, that's a no brainer! The issue will be reconciled according to His will. And it may be hard. We may face backlash. It may be painful. But we can rest peacefully knowing that we did the right thing. If we bring our opinions into the solution there is room for chaos, distrust, gossip, accusations. When we use God's word to problem solve we know that the solution is based on truth, His word, and it is infallible.

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an
opportunity for great joy"-James 1:2