From Riches to Rags

My husband and I went from being millionaires to standing in a food bank lineup. When my husband and I were in court and the judge gave us 90 days to move out of our home, a home that was ours for almost 20 years. I was literally speechless. I could barely breathe. I was sure that God (even though I hadn’t been walking with him) would rescue us somehow. Surely he would let us keep our home. We had already lost so much. My mind was racing with thoughts of being a street person. The humiliation, the embracement, the shame of having lost everything was overwhelming.

When I got home I bawled I screamed and asked God why he had forsaken me. His answer was “my child I have been here all the time waiting for you to call on me” And from the pit of my stomach came an over powering cry of asking God to forgive me of all my sins. That cry turned into prayer and the prayer turned into praise and praise turned into peace and reassurance that we would be all right now that we actually gave the situation to God.

We had no money, no credit, no rich family members, no rental properties that we could move into. Social services and every other community organization told us that we didn’t qualify for whatever reason. Now it was 3 weeks left and not only am I wondering where we are going to move but people were starting to ask where we were moving to and why am I not stressed, worried, angry upset and crying. How Can You Seem So At Peace With The Entire Situation? My reply was simple because “Philippians 4:7 - “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” I have to believe that God has everything under control and that He indeed had not forsaken me.

On Mother’s Day just before going into church my phone rang and it was someone saying that he had a place for us to rent but could we come see it right away. I said no because we were just going into church and I had to teach Sunday school. Could we see it tomorrow because it was Mother’s Day and we were going out for lunch afterward. Two days later we seen and leased the condo. Praise God the only criteria it didn’t meet was a rec center with a pool BUT it does have lake access which is wonderful in the summer. I would read Deuteronomy 28 blessings and the devil would tell me that I didn’t qualify for the blessings but I sure did for the curses. I read Philippians 4 and tried to remain positive. God would remind me of Job and that he had lost everything but his life and still he refused to turn away from God. Would I be like Job and be thankful for what I still had or would I once again leave God.

Hebrews 13:5-6 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Hebrews 4:16 Because we feel connected to God and loved by Him it gives us the confidence and boldness to approach Him to “find grace to help in time of need” (And the grace that He provides is enough for everything in our lives.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness".

Theresa Crick - Bow Valley Christian Church, NW Calgary