Are you hanging on by your fingertips? It does not have to be that way. God’s upper most desire is to have a personal relationship with you, and it starts with conversations with God. Conversations called prayer.
Oh, you will get answered. Perhaps not in the way you expect and sometimes it takes awhile, but when God answers things come together. In time God shows up.
To encourage you here is one of Moira’s God stories. The first one is on the about page. But it did not stop there, that was only the beginning. In the second big encounter, God showed up in a bigger way.
Listening to stories from our parent’s friends about retiring, moving to their dream place, realizing how they missed their friends and family, and then spending all their money moving back, caused us to think. “Let’s move to where we want to retire and raise a family there.” We were in our 20’s at the time.
Without prayer, and on our own hook, we sold everything except our truck. We added an eight-foot camper to live in and started out for beautiful British Columbia, Vancouver Island to be specific. You would think we would clue in, as it is known as a place for the newly weds and nearly deads.
Nope, we holidayed in campgrounds and showered at marinas until we needed funds. Never experiencing unemployment before we began the job hunt, figuring it would take a week. But jobs were scarce. This was a place for retired people!
Winter set in. Unprepared for life in a rain forest the camper windows fogged up, the heater was inefficient, and mold began to grow under the mattress. Holiday over we moved into a commercial campground to dry out
The job hunt turned into 100 fruitless interviews, and no leads. Funny how we never thought of returning home where it was prosperous.
COMING TO THE END OF SELF
Funds low, hat in hand we asked for help. Mom and Dad, who were retired, generously let us live in their backyard. We found a church full of life and spirit. My Christian faith was about to take a dramatic turn.
Resources gone, financially, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, God began to show up.
Until this point I continued to run my own life, “thank you very much.” Being termed a fingertip Christian meant I had hung onto my God relationship with my fingertips. Circumstances forced me to admit, control is an illusion. I’d done all I could. Now at the end of myself with all resources depleted, God showed up.
AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
God started with the biblical book of Romans. The words on the page became living breathing things. For the first time in my life I was meeting the Holy Spirit, a force to be reckoned with. The following words became my reality.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2
God’s spirit began this renewal, and Romans 12:2 became my life’s verse. To this day I am continually being renewed of mind.
WHAT BEGIN CLOSER FEELS LIKE
My relationship to God became a tangible thing. Prayers were answered because I was praying in God’s will. Surrender was complete and life was amazing. There was an indescribable knowing, a peace in my soul, and a loving assurance that all is indeed well with me soul.
Even though we had moved to the island without consulting God at all, God kept this promise.
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28.
GOD SHOWED UP
I was hired at the unemployment office which I had gone into everyday for 100 days. My husband got an interview. He met with a panel of interviewers. They informed him, “You have not lived in this province long enough. There is a policy. We can not hire you.” Feeling let down, we continued to pray and lean into God knowing, God shows up.
Jim got called for a second interview. This time it was one individual who grilled him. Later we found out this man hated Christians. He had a run in with a very pushy offensive person trying to shove the Bible down his throat and wanted no more. We understood, we do not like pushy either.
Jim came home to our 8-foot camper in his parent’s backyard. Once again, we wrote off the job. But God showed up. Against all odds Jim got the job. Yup, when God shows up doors open. God sometimes closes doors when what is on the other side is not good for you. But this time they opened wide. We moved down island where the job was. I got a new job right away. We qualified for an apartment. Moving in with a camper mattress [devoid of mold], and a guitar we wondered why we needed so much space. Life as an islander began in earnest, for how long we did not know. But we did know, God always shows up.
Jim’s job was a 3-month contractual position. Four times this contract was extended. We learned to live life one day at a time, trusting God. Eventually the job did become permanent.
Praying and trusting God became a way of life, and we lived the words of Joshua 1:9 below:
And God was with us, and he will be with you too!
GOD IN YOUR LIFE
God is in your life if you know it or not. If you do not have a relationship with God pray for one. If you have one and wish you were closer, have a personal conversation called prayer. But hang on to your hair. A ride with God can get crazy for a while before your direction becomes clear.
Perhaps you have a God story yourself. If God has shown up in your life and you think it will encourage someone else connect with us here. Share it as God leads.
Closer God Closer Family would like to thank you for stopping by and here is my prayer for you.
A PRAYER FOR YOU
Photo by Olivia Snow on Unsplash
Dear God.
I pray you you who have been drawn to read these words. I pray you feel encouraged and are drawn to God and grow closer. I pray as you show up with appointments with God you are reassured of God’s love for you. – Amen
VERSES TO MEMORIZE
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28.
“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
LIFE APPLICATION:
Letters About Life encourages you to set aside a daily quiet time. Find a consistent place and show up for an appointment with God to read his word and talk to him about your life through prayer.
Elizabeth Bristol says
Thank you, Moira, I needed that enCOURAGEment today . . . the reminder that God works all things together for our good. That has been my Scripture this year.
Have you ever heard: first the test and then the testimony. I think I’m in the middle of a really hard test.
I just drove across the US in the pandemic, even had a breast cancer scare en route. Now I’m quarantining before joining my family’s team to help my dad who’s on hospice. All of that is actually doable. It’s the family dynamics that are super painful.
So, that’s my story. Super grateful for all of your prayers! I’ll try and remember to come back and share what God does with it. xox
Moira Gardener says
I really appreciated your comment and your transparency in sharing. “First the test and then the testimony,” so true but I’d never heard it put that way before, thank-you. You are amazing and I know God holds you close and will make good on his promise to “work for your good.” You are a God story in the making.
Nancy Lee says
I love this story! Thank you for being so transparent and sharing your God-journey.