Praise You in This Storm (and the Hallway)

Dave lost his job almost 2 weeks ago.  Friday will be his last day.  I have been through so many emotions in the past several days, it's hard to keep them all straight.  When I first found out the Holy Spirit reminded me of John 16: 33.  "...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  From the moment I found out, I have trusted that God is going to see us through this.  He is going to provide for our family.  And He has a plan for us.

What I struggle with is the why.  Why did this have to happen to us?  It's not a typical lay-off, and the story is long and depressing and infuriating.  I was not expecting this to happen at all.  I had just found out I received tenure.  We are happy with our church and friends and family.  Things were going well.

Dave has said since day one that he is choosing to view this as a blessing in disguise.  I am so proud of his positive attitude.  He is working his tail off trying to find another job.  I told him I want him to find something that he loves.  If that means moving?  Well, then I will support him.

I read a quote the other day that I just love.  It goes, "Until God opens the next door for you, praise Him in the hallway." I don't know who said that, but I think it is amazing and definitely worth following.  God didn't promise that life would always be rosy and comfortable.  Maybe ours was getting too comfortable, and God felt the need to shake things up.

I don't know the reason.  But I am going to choose to praise Him and rely on Him.

A precious sweet girl suggested I read Psalm 77 today.  The writer has found himself in a pretty bad storm of life.  He begins questioning the Lord.  He starts asking,

⁷ Will the Lord cast off forever?
And will He be favorable no more?
⁸ Has His mercy ceased forever?
Has His promise failed forevermore?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? 

Sounds pretty desparate, huh?

But things turn around in verse 10 through the rest of the chapter.  He decides to stop wallowing and chooses to remember the good that God has done.  In verse 11, he says, "I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old."

God has done so many good things in my life.  I have no doubt of that.  So, while I don't understand what is going on right now, I'm going to choose to dwell on the good and to have faith that He will continue to bless me and my family.

Will there be hard days?  Absolutely.  One Sunday recently, I went to church and didn't want to talk to anybody and was pretty rude to my friends.  I felt awful.  Thankfully, they love me and accepted my apology.

I'm not perfect.  Frankly, I just don't even care if I come across that way or not.  There's a line in a song by JJ Heller that I love...
 "Perfection has a price
But I cannot afford to live that life
It always ends the same; a fight I never win"

Of course imperfection doesn't excuse being rude by any means.  But I think you know what I am getting at. 

So, some days will be hard.  It's amazing the roller coaster of emotions we have already felt.  But God is holding us close.  I can feel it.  It's like He is cradling me in His arms, whispering in my ear, "Shhh.  It'll all be alright.  You don't know it, but I have great things in store for you.  In My time, I will reveal them to you."

That, my friends, is so comforting.  How do people live without the peace of God in their lives?

Just keepin' it real.