As I exited the freeway this morning on my route home from Costco, I could hear a loud clicking noise coming from my engine - it was audible over the loud children's cd I was playing at the moment. Now, the car has been mildly clicking for a few months now but nothing like what it was doing now.
Within a few minutes it grew louder and the car started to shake up and down as I drove. I pulled into the drive way and unloaded the perishables into my fridge (I left Kai in the car, he was getting impatient with me) and hopped right into the car to take it to the shop. The car died when I tried to put it into gear...ugh! Oh no!! Please at least make it to the car shop!! I prayed.
It started after several tries and the whole drive up to the shop I prayed that God would let me at least get there.
As I was waiting to turn left (I was just down the street from the shop - almost there!), the car DIED!!! TURNED OFF & WOULD NOT START!!! I immediately turned on the hazard lights as I waved the people behind me to go around me while I continued to try and restart the car.
WHY NOW!! GOD, WHAT HAPPENED?!
I decided to call my dearest friend to come and help me - as soon as she picked up the phone, I immediately felt like I was going to burst into tears - in fact, I did.
I called my husband as well and cried - asking him what I should do.
Kai is now in the back seat crying harder and louder as each minute passes (or at least, it felt like it). As he cried harder, so did I - not out of fear but out of hopelessness - I have never been in a situation like this and I had NO idea what to do!!! We don't have AAA and I didn't have a phone book in my car. Thankfully, Ryan was able to text me a roadside assistance phone #.
Anyway, some nice gentlemen pulled over and helped me push my car out of the middle of the road and right in from on McDonalds where I waited an hour and half for the tow service.
God was there!
Kelsey picked up Kai for me and watched him while I dealt with the tow company and she stayed with Kai and I until they came to tow my car.
God is merciful!
Kai and I are now safely home, the car is in the shop and I am now remembering what God showed me this morning in my devotions and what I had prayed for.
Mark 4:35-41 - Jesus Calms the Storm. I know we're all familiar with this story but God pointed out some very key events that took place during the Storm.
1) Jesus was asleep when the disciples came and woke him saying "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" and 2) after Jesus calmed the storm, he then corrects them saying "Why are you so afraid? Have you no faith?"
Here I am, in the middle of the intersection - Ryan and I are currently broke and are in serious need of financial help already, and now my car has completely broken down. Meaning, more $ is going to be required of us.
But, "God is not a god of confusion, but of peace" and he filled me with it as this was all happening. I KNOW that God knows our financial situations and I KNOW that this incident was not out of His control - so, I believe and am at peace knowing that Jesus is going to calm this storm. I could easily cry out to God "Lord, don't you care that our finances are perishing??!" to which He would reply "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"
Finances are the EASIEST thing for God to restore. I almost want to laugh at the obvious revealing of God's hand in all of this and I can't wait to see how He is going to answer our prayers! It may be quickly or it may take more time in which I will need to patiently wait on Him and trust in Him for everything.
(On a side note, Ryan and I have been praying and seeking God about whether or not to send me back to work to help with finances, but I believe that God is wanting to test us in our faith and I believe He wants to show Himself in a greater way through providing for us one day at a time.)
It could have been a lot worse!!! Did I realize that in the moment, as it was happening?? Of course not!!! But, an hour or two later - looking back on what happened, I now see all of the ways God protected me from having a REALLY bad day!
Not only did he provide help and assistance through my friend Kelsey and my husband, but he also saved me from a HUGE embarrassment! I won't give details but know that if this thing had started while I was stranded and waiting for the tow company instead of starting as soon as I got home, I would have had a REALLY bad day!!
I'm sorry about how long this was, I sincerely wanted to encourage any of you and all of you if you are struggling with the same thing - finances (or lack there of).
Do not be discouraged - God will give you your daily bread. If anything, I believe that He takes away our comforts that so easily distract us from Him for the purpose of teaching us to rely and depend on Him in prayer.
PS: how is it that a fruit fly flies so slow and when you try to kill it, it seems to evade your deathly blow?
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