After a haircut, I stopped next door for lunch with my wife. The local South American comfort food hit the spot. During the meal, my eyes shifted to the window and my thoughts recalled when we had once lived in the area. But after one year we decided to leave the town for the convenience of being closer to work.
That year marked a difficult season for both of us.
On the day of the move my wife discovered we had bed bugs. A reason to the reddish bite marks on her upper arms that kept getting worse. Oddly enough, I had no symptoms. As we were new to the area we didn't know that such infestations were common. We learned that special dogs were used to detect them, especially in the city where these bugs traveled on people's clothing - imagine in a subway!
The movers noticed our shocked expressions and whispered conversations. They cashed in on it by doubling up the charges. Our landlord was furious that we waited a day to notify them. However, we were caught up in a move between two places that consumed our time and energy. We had worked from early morning to after midnight. When it was over, we held hands and wept asking God to help us.
Later that same year, I foolishly got into a car accident costing us over three thousand dollars. While our car was in the shop for two weeks we joined a regular crowd taking the bus which consumed nearly two hours a day to get to work and home.
But today the Lord spoke to my heart when I started to rehearse all the bad moments.
These are redeemable moments.
I got great haircut for less the price where we live now. Excellent food at a fraction of the cost compared to some other well known restaurant. And down the street we had our oil changed with staff that was familiar with us and our car - a sort of welcome back committee. None of this would have been possible unless we had lived on that same street.
Most importantly, God used this season to chasten my heart when I went into survival mode rather than trust Him.
Beloved, no matter how difficult the moment of testing and trials - God knows how to redeem not just us - but those dark and low moments when all seems lost - He indeed makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
When we mediate on the redeemable moments our faith increases. Any influence of resentment and bitterness (or questioning God's sovereignty) loses it's power to grip the mind and heart.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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