As the daughter of a sales rep I have grown to know what we call "prosperous" years and "top ramen" years. As the wife of a sale rep I am walking those years a little closer to the cuff now.
My experience and understanding of this commission based job has come in handy when helping calm my husband's heart who is walking this job and newness for almost the second year now. First year we were blessed with the "prosperous" year. This year however... not so much. As mentally hard as this year has started out to be we've been reminded that God can do so much with very little and he has proven that month after month after month so far and we know he will continue to do so, but it has not come without the struggle.
Expenses.
Growing children.
Family trip long over due to family that was bittersweet in the end.
Water leak.
On track for a fantastic turn around month then floods on job sites equalling worst month ever.
The list goes on...
and last night... again another leak discovered that is buckling hardwood floors again that were already rough when we bought the house, they grew rougher when a pipe broke while repairing the toilet, and now are much worse due to a pipe from the tub that appears to be leaking and seeping to that same spot in the wood on the other side of the bathroom wall. However, it was a eureka moment on how possibly the wood was roughed up before we bought the house.
All that to say as it was 9:20pm while getting kiddos to sleep we noticed the wood raised higher again and I couldn't help but think "here is another expense we can't bargain for." "The floors can't wait any longer really to be replaced, and it's not just this section that can be replaced it will have to be the whole living space due to the style of floor. Great." "If its not one thing, its another."
While on hold with the home warranty people to get a plumber called out my husband and I just laid there going "you've got to be kidding me. Of course it would choose this year to happen. Where/when will this be fixed from?" I didn't tell him at the time but I had to giggle at the irony of it all. Last year right before house guests were coming is when the toilet pipe broke flooding that part of the house... so of course it would be a year later similar timing. Haha! Cause why not!?
We got the call in and are waiting for the plumber to call us. We have checked prices on flooring that will without a doubt be in our nearer than planned future, and this morning I was thinking to myself again "If its not one thing, its another." and it dawned on me... of course it is!! Why wouldn't it be!?
Growing up in church you've mostly always heard "God didn't say the road would always be easy." Or "you either have just walked out of a struggle, are smack dab in the middle of one, or one is coming... either way you need to always make sure you are storing up your spiritual storehouses (and physical as God has called you to) to be strengthened and to have peace to fight the battle."
You see, without the struggle where would we need that face in the dirt praying for God's strength as we walk alongside him as he is providing and being his amazing self!? If we "slip" seeking him during the "prosperous" times and only during the "top ramen" times how will we be fully armored for battle whenever that "something" comes our way?
Now, I am by no means saying I am great at always remembering to stay up on storing my storehouses during the prosperous times but recently we had jumped back into faithfully setting our 10% aside first even though the paychecks have seemed too low to help (although jokes on me right!? God provided every penny, and even then some... as he does every time!? Why do I fear, ever?), and making sure my time with God in the mornings are more intentionally then I had sadly let them slip to. I giggled to myself this morning at my "if it's not one thing, it's another" realization because it doesn't surprise me at all that Satan is trying to throw us off course with this already tight year and now a repair/replacement looming in our future on top of the already tight list that was in place.
Jokes on him though...
We know that as we are faithful with our little things that God will do much with them. We won't be taking matters into our own hands and because God has faithfully shown us where and how he wants us to physically set up for preparing for when "it rains". So as frustrating as this time could appear, it really isn't.
It's always going to rain. Satan is always going to try and steer you off the path in the least expected times. This situation now is just another reminder to always sure yourself up in God's goodness. Feed your souls and fill your storehouses in the good times as God is restoring your soul from the last battle so you are ready for next battle when the time comes.
And it will come.
So, here is to standing firm and letting God shine through because no matter the outcome we know we will be beyond okay and will praise Him through it all.
Jokes on you Satan!
You see, without the struggle where would we need that face in the dirt praying for God's strength as we walk alongside him as he is providing and being his amazing self!? If we "slip" seeking him during the "prosperous" times and only during the "top ramen" times how will we be fully armored for battle whenever that "something" comes our way?
Now, I am by no means saying I am great at always remembering to stay up on storing my storehouses during the prosperous times but recently we had jumped back into faithfully setting our 10% aside first even though the paychecks have seemed too low to help (although jokes on me right!? God provided every penny, and even then some... as he does every time!? Why do I fear, ever?), and making sure my time with God in the mornings are more intentionally then I had sadly let them slip to. I giggled to myself this morning at my "if it's not one thing, it's another" realization because it doesn't surprise me at all that Satan is trying to throw us off course with this already tight year and now a repair/replacement looming in our future on top of the already tight list that was in place.
Jokes on him though...
We know that as we are faithful with our little things that God will do much with them. We won't be taking matters into our own hands and because God has faithfully shown us where and how he wants us to physically set up for preparing for when "it rains". So as frustrating as this time could appear, it really isn't.
It's always going to rain. Satan is always going to try and steer you off the path in the least expected times. This situation now is just another reminder to always sure yourself up in God's goodness. Feed your souls and fill your storehouses in the good times as God is restoring your soul from the last battle so you are ready for next battle when the time comes.
And it will come.
So, here is to standing firm and letting God shine through because no matter the outcome we know we will be beyond okay and will praise Him through it all.
Jokes on you Satan!
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