It was a Thursday when long-time friends of ours, and supporters from our days in ministry, felt God lay us on their hearts. They wrote a check and put it in the mail. Thousands of miles away, we were unaware.
In our neck of the woods, there wasn’t much unusual going on. Monday through Friday, my husband and I have a strong routine. We’re up before the sun and busy ‘til the day is done. After work, we’re exchanging stories, hitting the gym, and eating supper with a little TV. Throw in a call or two with family, or chores in the yard, lifegroup, or dinner guests, a visit with neighbors ~ and soon it’s time for bed.
We woke up earlier than usual the next Saturday morning. My hubby had signed us up to ride on a parade float with a favorite local non-profit. The only trouble was, he had a headache. This was also unusual. When it did not subside, we bowed out of heading downtown for a shift in public relations.
The outside temp was cool, and it was raining. Sipping our warm coffee in the cozy living room, we sat just resting, reading, thinking, and praying.
A bit later, as if out of nowhere, he got an idea. “I’m going to check under the house about replacing the rotting joists.” I guess he felt better! Not only was the headache gone, but he was ignoring the fact that his shoulder had been recommended for replacement. He’d been in pain. I was alarmed, and threw in my usual cautionary critiques. Could he do this job alone? Would the fridge fall through the floor? How much would this cost? Should we call someone?
Undaunted, he hopped up and headed to the garage. This repair project was long overdue; and in totality, more complicated than replacing a few joists. A myriad of crawlspace issues had languished beneath us for years. Some piers weren’t touching the ground. A few places on our wood floors had become bouncy. There was a buried tree root the size of an anaconda. And down in the darkness, worn insulation was dangling like spider webs everywhere.
The worst problem had been growing for more than four years, since before we’d moved in to our forty-year-old house. The inspector had mentioned a product to eradicate all signs of the mold. But trying to work out a game plan always ended in procrastination and indecision. Months ago, we’d called a company for an estimate to take care of every problem there was – and we were told it’d be over $10K! So year after year, talk after talk, brainstorm after brainstorm, we’d been left stuck…until today.
Something was pushing for us to get this done – rather, someONE. As believers, we know God lives inside of us in the person of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? When a task or responsibility seems overwhelming, God promises us in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me. Wonder-working power was on the move to accomplish what we needed.
After checking over the joists, he was back in the living room to strategize. We talked through logistics. Then, we went below together to make a list. Alarm bells blasted through my lips. There were hundreds of mold spores hanging from the beams. I was terrified of potential dangers. He didn’t stop me from calling a different company for another estimate – they scheduled us for Tuesday. But he left a message with a guy who’d worked for the neighbors. Meanwhile, we were off to Home Depot to buy wood beams, screws, joist hangers, N95’s, and vinegar.
Though I manage our finances in consultation with my husband, he was leading this charge without pause. It was clear that delay was no longer viable. So I’d thrown caution to the wind and determined that a credit card would have to do. After all, a house is a massive investment – it’d be imprudent to let it fall to pieces. My prayers were on rapid fire as well. I looked up to the warehouse roof at one point crying out, “God, help us!”
When we got back to the house, my husband headed straight to work on the joists. And my part, armed with Google research, was to spray vinegar everywhere I could access. This toxic threat had seen its day. “Be gone!”
Popping back into the kitchen for something, I saw my husband’s phone ringing on the counter. I grabbed it up with gloved hands and answered. It was the man my husband had called. I carried the phone down below so they could talk.
In less than 30 minutes, this friendly, confident young worker was on scene, eager to please. He needed a side job to pay for recent truck repairs before Christmas. After walking and crawling around to assess the needs, He said he could start “tomorrow.” With many years of experience, he estimated he could do the job in two weekends, and he’d spare us from the big company fees. This was a match made in heaven! Or was it? He needed cash. Hmmm…
All I can tell you is that I knew this arrangement was from the Lord. We needed long-overdue remediation, and Joe* needed a side job right now. It had all come together so fast. I cast my cares on the Lord and knew He would figure it out. We had $3K in savings, and that was it. We’d wait to see what the estimate would be.
Meanwhile, we’d started in on things ourselves. We are handy DIY types, and my husband is very capable in anything related to construction. He’d already replaced our deck for a fraction of the cost of paying someone. What a blessing his skills are to us!
Not much later, Joe called with the estimate – $6500! Though lower than the professionals with all their bells and whistles, it was double what we could afford without a credit card. I wasn’t sure what we would do. Again, I prayed. “God, please help us! Show us what to do.” I was listening…. waiting…. thinking…. “What next?”
As we began to engage with every one of those long overdue issues on our own that first Saturday, the list of accomplishments grew.
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I yanked a huge section of nasty insulation, rolled it up, and bagged it all.
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I sprayed vinegar on huge sections of joists (Joe would bring in the big guns later).
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My hubby was leveling huge sections of uneven ground under the house.
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We gathered and removed piles of trash left by previous workers.
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He ascertained that the joists did not need replacement ~ only shoring up.
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He lifted plumbing lines and clipped them to the joists.
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He repaired a leaking HVAC line and set it at a better angle to evacuate.
- We verified that the old detached root had long ago begun fading away.
Yet we would still face a $6500 bill for the encapsulation, an electrician, and a humidifier that we could not afford. God had gotten this ball rolling, and only He knew how this was going to work out. We would never not pay someone for their work; and we were fully aware that Joe’s costs would be due within days.
The message in church was encouraging. The worship focused our eyes on the Lord and His provision. I prayed specifically to be like George Mueller during his days in the orphanage when they’d all sit to dinner and thank the Lord for the food that wasn’t there. Next, they’d hear a knock at the door and open it to find a truck driver offering them expiring food or milk after breaking down outside.
I relished trusting God like that. And you can only practice that kind of dependance when you’re in the same situation ~ not having what you know you need, and thanking God for it ahead of time. “I know you will provide for these costs, Lord!” And I did know. I just didn’t know how. But I had surely sensed Him working beyond our control when Joe had shown up. This was some kind of adventure!
Hebrews 11:1 (NASB) Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 (NASB) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.
Deuteronomy 32:4 (NASB) The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and just is He.
Psalm 33:18 (NASB) Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who wait for His faithfulness,
On Sunday, Joe set to work removing all of the old underlayment. And what a pile of trash that made! He was unable to get help from his friend with a trailer to take it all to the dump. My hubby said we could bag it up and put it at the curb. Joe said this would save us the $200 dump fee. Now the total soon due was $6300!
We still didn’t have that much.
I’ve heard it said from a friend quoting a preacher I don’t remember, “Work like it depends on you. Pray like it depends on God.” Basically, get moving, and trust the Lord to guide you as you set to work.
By Monday, my husband and I still had no answer. We had attempted to apply for a personal loan online over the weekend. We’d learned we’d need to go to the branch and apply in person. Since time was of the essence, we’d go in “today.” He had just come home from work and changed his clothes. He was putting on his shoes. And I was quickly scanning the mail he grabs each afternoon on his way in.
A letter from our friends was there. They’d sent us a few things recently, and I imagined this was their Christmas letter. The holiday season was already in full swing. As hubby finished tying his laces, I opened the letter. And there… my mouth dropped, my eyes watered, my heart skipped a beat. I exclaimed praise out loud.
Inside that envelope was a longish letter from our friends explaining that God had put us on their hearts once again, that they had more money to give from all God had blessed them with, and that they wanted us to spend the money any way we needed to. And you know how much that check was for ~ $3300!
Psalm 34:3 (NASB) Exalt the Lord with me, And let’s exalt His name together.
What’s even more mind blowing is that the check had gone into the mail days before we’d ever dreamed of tackling the crawlspace projects. Just take a few moments to ponder all the twists and turns of this story, with people who have minds of their own muddling through the details. God’s providence had set this transaction into motion not only for us, but for Joe’s urgent need as well!
And there was a cherry on top, too! We called our friends immediately and told them the whole story. We bubbled over about what a blessing they were and about how amazed we were at God’s ability to work out this miracle. This brought them tremendous joy as well. “We’ve always heard of stories like this ~ but now we’ve been a part of one!” They were relishing God’s goodness right along with us.
Psalm 23:1-3 (NAS95) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Psalm 100:3 (NASB) Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 95:7-8a (NASB) For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your heart…
Psalm 30:4 (NASB) Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, And praise the mention of His holiness.
Philippians 4:19-20 (NASB) And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
*Joe is not his real name.