We had felt the call to travel full time for ministry. It was all new. It was exciting, and it always is whenever God begins something new in you; no matter how big or small. However, there is always a sacrifice.
I had everything that I wanted, physically. My husband and I worked hard for the home we had and the life we were living. I had my dream home. Was it fancy? No, but it was everything that I had wanted with the potential for me to make it better. I had great neighbors. We were five minutes or less from our church, and were involved in many different areas of the church. We had the cars we wanted. The life that we wanted.
Then this call from God to travel full time… we couldn’t afford to keep all of the stuff. We began to get rid of it and make room for the new thing God had placed in our lives. It didn’t bother me to let go of all that we had worked for. I was excited, but there were some days that it was hard too.
We moved into an 29ft fifth wheel before beginning to travel full time to start getting as prepared as we could financially. I was still working part time as an RN, this was in the midst of COVID I might add. The first night in the RV I had gone to work that morning with plans to work an 8 hour shift, ended up changing to a 12 hour shift that extended to a 13/14 hour shift. I came home to our fifth wheel we were now living in, the first night to stay in it. I went to take a shower, only ice cold water. Exhausted, all of the change, excitement, not knowing exactly what our future was going to be, and we had just given up everything (our home, things, ministry roles serving in local church, plans). The lack of warm water after that long day, although something small, was the moment that everything finally piled up on me. The moment that I broke. I was excited but nervous. My heart was aching but full. I was overwhelmed.
I remember my husband wrapping his arms around me that next morning and saying, “it will get better, I promise.” I don’t think I believed him at that moment. Sometimes we have weak times of faith, but keep going, it does get better!
Sometimes there are days that may overwhelm you in a new season. Everything is new and wonderful; new ministry, new baby, new marriage, new job, new home, new spiritual season - what is new for you? Life is always changing and we all have seasons of something new in our lives.
Then there is that one thing that happens. It is not that big of deal, but with all of the change, trials, or whatever it may be you just can’t take anymore.
A couple days after this cold water incident my husband and I were going to another church in the area to lead the worship service. One song we were planning to do
Thanks, Thanks
I give you thanks for all you have done
I am so blessed, my soul has found rest
Oh Lord, I give you thanks
We weren’t going to practice this song, we had done so many times before! We decided to quickly run through to make sure we had the right key to sing it in. I began to sing those words, “thanks, thanks” while standing in that 29 foot rv we were now living in, and I began to weep. The ending of a season in our lives, leaving everything that we knew, my home, my family, my life plans, and the cold water didn’t seem so bad anymore. God began to renew my mind in that moment of thanksgiving.
Now let me share with you our last couple of weeks. We have not had any hot water in our rv! We have had cold to lukewarm water at best. Oh but last night we finally got HOT water. This time around, the past couple of weeks with cold water hasn’t been that bad. Frustrating at times, yes. As a lady who has hair that hits the back of her knees, I really prefer hot water. Washing dishes in cool water isn’t as nice as hot. I smiled last night as we finally had hot water, remembering that first night in the rv. I remembered that moment of thanksgiving that transformed my way of handling life's problems, no matter how big or small. It wasn’t “that big of a deal” the past couple of weeks because I have already been here before. I knew it couldn't last that long, and things would get better.
Maybe you are at a point of overwhelm in everyday life, the bills, kids, activities, and chores are all piling up.
Maybe the sacrifices you have had to make are getting to be just a little too much.
Maybe you have given your all to ministry and to God and it just seems like it will never be fruitful. What is the point?
I challenge you today, wherever you are in this moment, to stop what you are doing and sing a song of thanksgiving. Let God refresh and renew you. In prayer, begin to thank him for every trial, every hurt, and every heartache. He will renew your mind! Things will get a little easier and you will be able to see the beauty in the season you are in.
Whether physical or spiritual, the cold water isn’t always so bad, and it will get better.
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