Trusting God in the Hard Times

Retirement was approaching, and my husband and I began considering what that transition would look like. We longed to leave the fast-growing, congested city where we lived and move to a smaller, not-too-distant town that was closer to nature and provided some breathing space. So we began looking in nearby rural settings for a small home with land. Unfortunately many others had similar ideas. Homes were being snatched up quickly, and the price tags were out of our reach. After much prayer we changed course.

We extended our search a little farther from the city and started looking for land, putting it into God’s hands. We found a piece of land located less than an hour from the city, not far from a small Adventist church. In time, we located a reputable, affordable builder, sold our home in town, and began the process of building a house.

But then the dream and reality converged.

Things began as expected.

We finalized house plans, excavators began their work, and the search for a well driller commenced. Who knew that it could take up to two years to schedule a well-driller in our state? Not us! After months of frustration and delays, we finally acquired an excellent well-driller. We praised the Lord! But that was only the beginning of difficulties, which eventually included our builder declaring bankruptcy.

The whole ordeal became a nightmare.

We—and others—began questioning our experience. Had we followed our own will and not the Lord’s? Was God trying to teach us something? Even though we believed that God was leading, we had to wonder whether we had gotten it wrong.

We are finally living in our new home and are truly grateful to God, but I must admit to still not having the answers to my questions.

What I have come to realize, however, is that when we make mistakes, God does not leave us. He helps us to grow through the tough times and come out of them realizing our total need of Him even more fully. Also, making the “right” decisions does not mean that things will go smoothly. Even though the way is hard and rocky, it could still be God’s plan that we travel that road for reasons we will come to understand only in heaven.

Do we love and trust God even when all things appear to be against us? That is the question we must answer if we want to one day enter our new home in heaven and be with Jesus forever.

Sandra Blackmer