God to the Rescue

So I'm not gonna lie.  This week was rough.  From missing work this Saturday and surviving on practically nothing, to my computer no longer turning on, to my wallet getting stolen in Atlantic City...I have definitely been tested this week.  It's been very humbling and several times this week, my buried emotions have gone raw.  But at the same time, I have felt God holding me more than ever before.  My very close friend, Kynesa, came up to visit me for the weekend and I was so very happy to see her.  Even though I have been feeling like I'm living on the edge of poverty, I have seen God's promises at work in my life.  He's definitely been living up to His promise in Psalm 37:25: "I have been young and now I am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." I have not been forsaken.  The community here has been wonderful and providing a lot of my needs.  I am not "begging bread".  Even though a lot of my funds are more tight than usual, I am not starving.  God's provided for me in miraculous ways, ways that I still can't help but marvel at.

More than anything however, I am most amazed at how God's helping me respond to my situations this week.  When I missed work on Saturday, I thought I lost my job for good. I called up my boss and apologized.  She not only forgave me, but she also told me that I could continue to work with her.  When my computer, what I've considered in the past as my main source of survival, stopped working, I not only was able to keep a cool head, but I was able to go to get excellent help and service at the Apple store and get it fixed for about $300.  While I was in Atlantic City however, my wallet was stolen.  I not only was able to check my bank accounts and see that my money was not taken, but I was able to close my accounts and keep a security watch out for the people who have my wallet.  Best of all, my first response to this entire situation (besides saying, "Oh, dread...") was, "Well, Lord, bless'em..."

He showed me that, unconsciously, I'm fulfilling God's Word, and the only effort I had to put forth was to stop, pray, and wait.  He was showing me that to be successful in His kingdom, the best thing we could possibly do is get out of the way, and let Him rescue us.  I prayed for the person who stole my wallet and could not think any bad thoughts of resentment or unforgiveness toward them.  God gave me clear thinking and showed me that everything in my wallet can be replaced.  I cannot be replaced. Throughout the entire situation, I was safe, and no hurt, or harm came to me.  My money in my bank accounts wasn't touched, and I wasn't overdrawn in any way. The only thing of true value to me was my driver's license and other IDs, but even those can be replaced.

When I came back to the Ark yesterday, I felt at peace with my stolen wallet, but I was still questioning why I had trouble with providing the basics for myself.  Later that night in my Gospel-Centered Life group as I poured out my heart to the group and told them about how I struggled with dealing with failure when I typically am a successful person, God gave me a new type of peace, one that showed me that He's got me right where He wants me: poor in spirit so I can gain the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:3).

I have found encouragement and solace in Psalm 25 and have been meditating on it for the past few days.  Because of this, I have come to see that God is my superhero, and He is always rescuing me from my troubles.