I know where it came from, but I can’t tell you why God gave it to me… I certainly didn’t deserve it, and my pitiful actions up until that point did not show any signs of growing faith! Therefore all I can do is praise God for this beautiful, undeserved gift …
But let’s go back to the beginning of the story …
Moving to western Canada would be a monumental task involving three miracles: To find a private home who could accommodate my husband’s needs; to sell my home in eastern Canada in the middle of the winter; and to find the perfect home for me in western Canada. Of course I worried about each step. I tried not to, and you don’t know how many times I gave it to the Lord; but my peaceful sleep of many nights was robbed by my inability to surrender all worry to God and to rest in His peace.
To condense a very long story, after multiple rejections, God brought forward the only private care home in the city who could accommodate my husband’s needs. Then God brought forth the way to affordably transport him to western Canada, which was a miracle in itself. My house went on the market, and after only two weeks, I received a very good offer, which I accepted. I had already found the “perfect” home for me out west and had put forth an offer that was accepted. It was, however, conditional upon the board at the condominium complex accepting my “over-sized” (their terms, not mine!) dog.
I tried so hard not to worry about this. Nonetheless, there were again many long nights of sleeplessness. And then the day of the decision arrived, and with it, the resulting email.
I was worried again, and I didn’t open it immediately, preferring to be with someone when I did. In the meantime, however, I gave it to God. I told Him that no matter what was written in the email, I would accept His will. If they accepted my dog, I would know the place was right for me; if they did not, I would know God had a better place for me. Either way, God’s perfect love would dictate the outcome.
That’s when the inexplicable peace came over me. I didn’t even shed a tear when the email stated unequivocally that my dog was not welcome in the complex. I knew God had this!
And that peace stayed with me. I was walking in total peace, even though my house in eastern Canada was sold, my husband was moving out west in two short weeks, and I had nowhere to go.
It was, however, more than peace. It was an excitement, an anticipation of what God would do. For the first time in my life I was actually experiencing Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (NIV). I didn’t see it, but my faith that God has this assured me and gave me confidence and peace!
I know there were praying people who knew about the upcoming board decision. I can only thank these people for praying for me to hold on and place my faith 100% in the good-gift-giving God: “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” (James 1:17 NLT).
Could I give this gift away?
Yes, of course I could. I could feel the temptation ever present and surrounding me to worry about this. Yet I kept claiming the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13b: “And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (NLT).
You see, during the long and sleepless nights, I was fighting the worry. I was even begging God to show me the way out of the worry, the way to put my total trust in Him. And He did. My “way out” was to focus on Him in total surrender of every part of the situation. That was my part. God’s part was to make it all possible.
What are YOU going through?
How many sleepless nights have you endured?
There is a way out, my friends! You may not see it or know what it is called, but it is there! Claim that promise and look to God to bring you to the way out of your temptation to worry. He is faithful, He will show you that way out, that way to total surrender, and give you the strength to take it. Then all that is left is to accept His inexplicable peace, and the excitement and anticipation of what God will do in your life that accompanies it!
I am praying for you!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
P.S. God did give me the perfect place, even better than the first, and I was able to move in immediately after my house in Eastern Canada sold…
