Have you ever seen someone who was able to still stand after the rug has been pulled out from under them? I have. I was that person. I would like to share with you how Proverbs 3:5-6 came alive to me on September 18, 2000. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.”
I had just been putting away folded clothes in my bedroom while my son, Logan, was playing in his room. I came out of my room and was standing at the top of the stairs, when, suddenly, my husband, Charles, appeared at the bottom of the stairs. I immediately said to him, “Hi, honey, what are you doing home? Are you sick?” With a very odd look on his face, he said, “No, I’ve just been laid off.”
I couldn’t believe it! I thought he was joking. You see, we had only been in our new house three weeks and I was 20 weeks pregnant! I immediately went to him and we hugged while I cried. He explained to me that as the last one to be hired he had to be the first one let go.
I felt so helpless. Normally, I am a planner. I like things structured and tidy, but suddenly things were out of my control. As I went to God during my quiet time and poured out my fears and anger, I heard Him whisper to my heart, “Lisa, do you trust Me?”
Then, God took me on a trip down memory lane to remind me of His faithfulness and that I could trust Him with everything. For about 2 years, my husband and I struggled with infertility when Logan was a toddler. During this time, I felt God’s love even though I didn’t understand why He was saying no. Then, one day in May of 2000, God said yes and we were pregnant! Suddenly our 1100 square foot home seemed small with the thought of another little person on the way.
Our house sold in July and God led us to our new home across town, very close to where Logan would be going to preschool. His preschool was another provision of God. This particular preschool was so popular that parents camped out overnight to ensure their spot in line for registration. I was not one of those parents. Instead, I was the frantic parent who called 5 minutes before registration closed to see if there was an opening for my child. There was!!! God was taking care of my family and causing me to trust Him more and more each day.
The blessings continued to come. Charles updated his résumé and started making phone calls. I prayed and our friends and family were so supportive. A dear friend of mine made bumper pads for the crib, beautiful window treatments, and a matching blanket. A neighbor from our old neighborhood, who is a professional painter, offered to paint the nursery as a gift. Meals, play dates, cards and words of encouragement came pouring in and blessed us during this time. Then checks started appearing in our mailbox that were tied to the closing on our house. God was providing in ways that we couldn’t imagine.
A peace came over me, as I trusted God more each day. In November, an engineering firm in town hired Charles. We were so thankful! I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Then, on February 3, 2001, Sterling Thomas Murray was born; a child we weren’t sure we would ever have.
BUT FOR GOD!!
When you truly trust someone, there is a peace that fills the places where fear or anxiety used to exist. Every day we must choose whether to trust God and what HIS Word says or to only trust ourselves. Who will you trust?
~ Lisa Murray
Lisa Murray has a degree in Elementary Education and taught several years before becoming a full-time mom. She has served in Womens Ministries as a prayer coordinator and led Bible studies for the past 16 years. Lisa is on the leadership team for Crowned with Beauty. She is a graduate of She Speaks a conference put on by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Her passion is raising godly boys to become godly men. She and her husband Charles live in South Carolina with their two teenage sons and their Labradoodle named Bear.
