"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
(KJV)
After 35 years, 5 months in the banking industry, my husband’s steady, good-paying job was outsourced to an outside company, and he, along with his co-workers, lost their jobs. In his last position, he worked from home 3rd shift in the IT Department, processing the data for 100+ bank branches. We were warned about the outsourcing for months ahead of time, but when the night finally came for him to shut down his computer applications in his office space in our living room for the last time, we all gathered around and felt a tidal wave of mixed emotions.This was a new experience. In our nearly 30 years of marriage and long before we were married, he had had a steady job and had only changed work places twice —once when we made a long-distance move and once after a departmental downsize reduced his working hours to less than we could afford. Both times, he stepped right into another position, so there was never even so much as a lapse between paychecks. I had left my own career in banking several years before to raise and homeschool our son, Zach, so my husband’s job was our only source of provision.
As Zach and I stood behind my husband that night and watched him close out application after application on his computer, the realization that we were, for the first time ever, without an income hit us like a ton of bricks. We knew we would be more than okay for a while, due to a very generous severance package from the bank and our savings, but what would happen after that?
What we didn’t know that night is there was a long line of unexpected health issues ahead of us that would keep both my husband and me from being physically able to work, along with several other life changes that would literally rock our faith to its core. I think it is for the best that we are not told the future ahead of time. It is enough to deal with what we need to face one day at a time.
Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 6:34, when He said, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
During the 21 months that we were without a regularly earned paycheck, our minimizing journey took on a whole new meaning as circumstance forced my family and me to take an even closer look at not only our possessions as we came to terms with selling things that were not true necessities, but also at the people who were a part of our outer and inner circle. If you are going through a similar time of difficulty and uncertainty, I hope the sharing of what we have learned will inspire and enrich your own minimizing journey.
1. Hard times inspire fresh examination of physical possessions. There is nothing like a shut-off notice to motivate a minimizing re-start. Threat of homelessness will cause you to realistically look at that extra vehicle with a new set of eyes and ask yourself, “do I really need to cling to this just because it belonged to a cherish loved one when letting it go would pay two months’ rent?” Practicality and sensibility rise to the surface and overwhelm sentimentality during desperate times.
2. Hard times prove who deserves and who does not deserve to remain a part of your life. Nothing reveals who truly cares about you more blatantly or powerfully than adversity. Pay attention to the one(s) still close to you when the chips are down, you are struggling to keep your head above water, and it seems all hope is lost. Identify who was there and who was not. Who proved their love? Who got their hands dirty? Who showed up when everyone else turned away? Who showed authentic compassion? Cherish those who loved you when it was anything but easy. Treasure those who stuck it out, held your hand, and withheld judgment. The ones who show up and are still there after the storm has passed are the people who are true-blue and have earned the opportunity to occupy stall seats in your life’s gallery. Minimize relationships with those who minimize you and the legitimacy of your predicament. Shed liaisons with those who interject blame and condemn you for what they know nothing about. Even in familial relationships. Just because someone is a part of your family does not mean they should be a part of your life.
3. Hard times draw you closer to the ones you love most. Leaning on the “true-blues” in your life through times of suffering strengthens bonds. Drawing support from those who share your sorrow deepens connection. Crying alongside those who are loyal through seasons of difficulty cements ties. Simultaneously experiencing pain and hardship solidifies camaraderie and a sense of shared accomplishment when the trial is over.
4. Hard times generate gratitude. While that statement may sound contradictory, it is true. Walking through days where it feels like your whole world is turned upside down makes you appreciate the immeasurable value of an ordinary day. There is a wellspring of truth in the words of the song recorded by Dennis Marsh that says, “The Hard Times Make the Good Times Even Better.” When dire necessity forces the sale of things you thought you could never part with, you realize you are left with what matters most because you still have each other. Thankfulness emerges from the realization that no matter what you have lost and given up, as long as you are still together with the ones you love, all is well.
5. Hard times prove God's faithfulness. It is easy to talk of "living by faith" and "trusting God" when paychecks are regular and substantial, 401k balances are increasing by leaps and bounds, and your bank account is secure. But, what about the moment you realize every single safety net and back-up plan has been exhausted? When your savings account shows a zero balance, the severance package is depleted, and all other means of financial support has been pulled out from under you, only God is left. Then, and only then, are you in a position of being able to prove whether or not He will be faithful. In that moment, you come face to face with the reality of finding out whether or not what you have "preached" and believed in for so long is really authentic. Will God show up and supply your needs?
Living in the realm of the miraculous requires finding yourself in the place of the humanly impossible.
In 2015, during the time of our identity theft nightmare, so many times the Lord would whisper to me in prayer, "I want to be your all in all." I would immediately say, "Lord, you ARE our all in all," only to feel instant conviction prick my heart as the untruth of my words washed over me. A steady, good-paying job, credit cards galore, and money in reserve doesn't exactly paint a true picture of GOD Himself being one's "all in all." As each source of self-sustenance was stripped from our grasp, we began to steadily learn what it means for God to be our one and only source. Still here—standing on the other side, I can now say that God is faithful. One day, perhaps He will inspire us to tell of the many ways He has proven His faithfulness and the fulfillment of His Word in our situation.
While we would never have asked for the downsizing of my husband’s job, what looked like a disaster in the beginning has deeply enhanced our walk with Christ and accelerated our Biblical minimizing journey in the most profound ways.
I don't know what you may be walking through, but I want to encourage you to keep looking up. Keep pressing on. Keep the faith. You can trust God. He has you in the palm of His hand. He will not fail you now. This song is my life anthem, and I promise you if you "lift your life up" in full surrender to God, He will absolutely prove Himself true and faithful to you in all of life's circumstances. May He bless you and reveal His awesome power to you today!
Wonderful encouraging post! I so enjoyed it : )
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Tipper! God bless you and your dear family!
DeleteWhat a beautifully written and heart-felt post. Cheryl, I had no idea that all of this had happened. It is a blessing that God doesn’t allow us to know the future, that is His wonderful protection for us. When friends and family forsake us, Abba Father will never forsake us, that we can be assured of us. I pray God’s blessings on you and your family♥️🙏🏻
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, dear friend. It IS His wonderful protection to shield us from knowing such fiery trials await. Oh, how true! Abba Father is always there, and He is so faithful. I cannot thank you enough for your prayers, friendship, and encouragement. May the Lord richly bless you and your dear family, too!
DeleteAmen, thank you for sharing your precious heart here, Cheryl. I am in the daily place of learning that having all of my normal life stripped away by illness has only drawn me closer into the arms of my Lord. I too have gone through so much conviction as I've realized how much I took the strength that God gave me, for granted. I depended on Him spiritually & emotionally, but did not realize how much I depended on my own good health until it was gone. But JESUS has continued to be so faithful, even as the hard times continue. His grace truly is sufficient. Blessings and love to you dear friend.
ReplyDeleteOh, how my heart goes out to you in the loss of your health, dear friend! I never thought of it that way about depending on your good health until it was gone. It just breaks my heart to know of your intense suffering, and how I long for Jesus to lay His healing hand upon you! Many blessings and much love to you, too, and many prayers going up on your behalf!
DeleteOh sweet friend, Thank you for sharing you and your family's story. Indeed it is such an encouragement of God's faithfulness and His ability to cause His children to persevere and to be grateful.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a medical researcher and his salary is funded by grants. We have been through several long periods of no paycheck. The second time is what ultimately brought my husband to the Lord.
Our small group is currently doing Larry Burkett's Jesus on Money. He discusses wants vs. needs and to cultivate a thought process of "Do I really need that?" when pondering a purchase. Indeed, as you have shared, that can also be applied to many other areas of our lives.
Thank you for sharing this very edifying and God honoring post. You always have a way of humbly getting to the heart of the matter that I so much appreciate.
And I appreciate you so much dear friend. Sending you much love and gratitude.
Thank you ever so much for your kind words, friendship, and prayers through it all. I imagine that Larry Burkett book is excellent. I haven't read that one but am familiar with his work and have found it to be SO Biblically-sound and effective. I appreciate you so much, too, and am sending much love and gratitude back your way!
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