Last Saturday, in Amaziah’s Mistake Part 1, we saw how relying on ourselves causes heartache and pain; but when we rely completely on God, He comes through for us.
As a result of this lesson, I had resolved in my heart that I would rely on Him through my upcoming out-of-control work day. And I did.
The results?
I came home in the most cheerful, happy mood my family had seen in months. I had arrived at work a little late, I had taken a lunch break, and I had left on time; yet despite this, my work had been completed. God had come through, and all I could do was praise Him.
Since I knew how I had almost ruined everyone’s evening the night before with my stressed-out behaviour, I decided to share with my family the entire story: of Amaziah, of my own struggle with self-reliance, and of the victory God had given me that day.
As I finished the story, my son look over at me and said, “Mom, I know why you needed to tell that story!” He then proceeded to tell about something that had happened to his graduate school application that day and how God had spoken to him through my story, telling him to not worry, but to trust in God instead of trying to find his own solutions.
You see, when his job search over the past 6 months had failed to produce fruit, God provided him with the opportunity of finishing his Master’s degree in Chemical engineering in just 2 semesters. God provided the university acceptance, the tuition, and my son had been told that the money for room and board could be provided through a TA position at the university. The problem he had just learned about that day was that the TA positions for the upcoming semester had already been filled long before my son knew he would be applying for graduate school…How would he be able to pay his room and board now?
Without even considering the lessons God had taught me earlier that same day about not “hiring Israeli fighters”, my mind immediately jumped to the first logical conclusion. The university is only a 2 hour drive from our home. Why not live at home and just drive back and forth on the 3 days a week he had classes?
It sounded like a good idea to me, but unfortunately, my husband was less-then-impressed with the concept. You see, what I failed to mention was the upcoming semester was in the winter, and the university is located in an area considered to be a “snow belt”…Our rather lengthy discussion ended with all parties agreeing to pray about it and let God guide.
It didn’t take God long to speak. As we continued our walk, I began to understand that my “grand” idea was in the same class as Amaziah’s hire of 100,000 Israeli troops! It was a “man-made” solution, relying on self rather than on God; and I knew then that the whole incident at work, as well as the timeliness of God’s lesson from Amaziah’s story, were not by chance: God was warning against living at home and driving back and forth. He was not with that plan, and He would not bless it.
But how would he pay his room and board?
Immediately I remembered that after Amaziah sent away the Israeli troops, he proceeded to soundly defeat Edom. I also remembered that after resolving to not work overtime but trust in God to get the work done, I had just completed a fantastic day. God was using these stories to reassure us that He would provide for my son’s room and board, and we didn’t need to worry. The three of us completed our walk with peace in our hearts.
And that peace lasted until morning…
I have to admit that God must so often shake His head towards me and say, “Oh you of little faith”! By morning, I found myself doubting, and I asked God to please verify through the Bible that my son was doing the right thing. I was immediately impressed to go to John 6:18-21. The disciples were in a boat rowing to the other side when, “…a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here!’ Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!” (NLT)
With that, I knew beyond a doubt that just as Jesus had instructed the disciples to row to the other side, God has instructed my son to go to grad school. And just like the “gale” that “swept down upon them”, my son was also experiencing very rough waters with the loss of the opportunity to become a TA; and just like the disciples had to row 3 or 4 miles before Jesus showed up, my son might have to weather the storm for a bit as well. But just like Jesus did show up, and when He got into the boat they were immediately at their destination, Jesus would show up and provide my son with the money he needed for room and board as well!
No matter what the problem is that you are facing today, remember Amaziah’s mistake–and mine as well: Don’t take things into your own hands. Stop relying on your own solutions. Turn to God and trust in Him instead. Then you will be able to sit back and watch for where He will come to you out of nowhere and help you through!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, andScriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, withAnswers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.