My 94-year-old mother moved at the beginning of March. Her new apartment, on the top floor of the same building, is much larger. Although she approached the process with anxious trepidation, the move went about as smoothly as these things generally do. But at the end, she was left with boxes and boxes and boxes…
Then California ordered a coronavirus shelter-in-place.
“How I wish I was back in #102,” she thought, feeling sorry for herself. “I knew where everything was there! Here, it’s just boxes everywhere. I can’t find anything. I don’t think I’ll ever get it sorted out. And now I’m stuck here with it!”
The discouragement lasted until, one day, she learned that someone in #302 had left the water running. #202 had flooded, and #102 had water in its electrical system.
She realized then that God had been protecting her all along. He provided a solution before there was even a need! As it turns out, she would have had to move anyway, but as an emergency with no method or plan, or, perhaps, even a place to go! And there could have been significant property damage! As hard as it had been, it turned out to be a blessing! Who knew?
I will answer them before they even call to me.
While they are still talking about their needs,
I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
Isaiah 65:23-25 New Living Translation (NLT)
Mom started looking at the enforced sheltering as a gift of time, time to do things she wanted to do: read, exercise, keep in touch with her kids and, yes, deal with boxes. Well, maybe, on that last. We’ll see…
From time to time the discouragement comes back. Then she reminds herself that God has proven His care for her, before, during and after everything that happens. Every time.
Just as He does for each one of us. Every time.