Providence, not Luck

Today, I have been struggling to find joy and peace. We are currently still trying to close on our home and the interest rates are steadily rising. I haven't really stressed over the financial aspect of the house because I have just had peace about the whole situation. Well, that all changed this morning.

We went to the bank this morning and found out that our interest rate was going to be significantly higher than we thought it was going to be. I could see the stress beaming off of my husband's face. I tried to keep it together for him because it isn't doing anyone any good to both be stressed. We left and I got to work and sat down at my desk. I started stressing. Stressing so bad it almost sent me into a spiral. I had my head in my hands on my desk and could feel the tears filling up in my eyes. I looked up and said "God just speak to me. Give me peace. help me trust that you have it all in your hands." and he did.

On my lunch, I went to youtube to look up Priscilla Shirer (she's my go-to when I need to hear an extra message from God) and told God just show me which sermon to stop on. I kept scrolling and scrolling until BAM it hit me like a lightning bolt. But it wasn't her, it was actually her dad Tony Evans. Man was I in for a treat! I had never heard him speak before but I had always heard how great he is. He preached a 20-minute sermon and I have 5 full pages of notes from it. It was so good! God placed that exact sermon for a reason.

His sermon was titled " The Detours of Providence" and it studied Genesis 50:15-26. He tells us in that sermon to replace the word "luck" with the word "providence." He explained that luck is a word used for a random, not planned act but providence is "the way God arranges things to achieve his sovereign purposes." and this is how we should perceive life. He explained that "God in His providential work takes the good and the bad to get to his present result! He doesn't show us the whole thing so that we can learn to walk by faith and not by sight." Man, God really does show up when I need him to. He knew exactly what to say to me today to give me that peace that I needed. No matter how this turns out, God's got my back.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) (NIV)