If there were two words I could use to describe life where we live they would be predictably unpredictable. Things always go wrong and problems always arrive, I just never quite know where those problems will come from. Therefore there is no way to prepare for the problems that arise, but I just attempt to gracefully handle them as they come. No one problem on its own is amazing or overwhelming, but it is often the accumulation of all of them and the frequency in which they take place, which makes life especially challenging here.
In the chaos, in confusion
I know you’re sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do your will
Sunday, for example, I wake up ready to go to church and then pick Joel up from the airport. The first bump in the road was a call that informed me that our babysitter was sick and we needed to find another one. Well I can think about that as I make breakfast. Turn on our stove and the gas runs out. Okay I can change that. I pull the gas bottle out and suddenly the door to the oven explodes into thousands of tiny pieces of glass spread throughout the kitchen. Hmmmm…well….now what? I clean up the glass, replace the gas bottle and stare in wonder at my oven door which is now just comprised of a sheet of metal. It should still work right? Sure why not. I never would have thought it possible that my oven door would shatter on me when I woke up that day. Yet when it happened I was not that shocked or surprised, because that is what life is like here. We live in a state of flex and often use things not in their ideal state. Yet we still get everything done: We made it to church, I found a sitter, and Joel made it home safely. However we rarely get anything done here without a few small or big bumps in the road. Those bumps keep me constantly dependent on God and in all honesty that is a great place to be.
All my delight is in you Lord
All of my hope
All of my strength
All my delight is in you Lord
Forevermore
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
Joel’s Trip in Pictures
What a great testimony your attitude is Andi! Isn’t it interesting when we are in a place where we are dependent on God, there is also contentment, because really, what good is all our striving and anxiety anyway? As always, thanks for sharing.
with love,
Aunt Patti
Andie, did you write that poem? I hope I can learn what you are learning. To take things that are unpredictable and trust Jesus through it all. I LOVE to have my life go in constant order but I don’t learn much that way. God is always faithful. I know that, – now I need to LIVE it.
God bless you!