Circumstances can turn sour, leaving us haggard and confused.
My
son's phone call last Sunday left me feeling this way. A mixed up had
occurred with the transfer of RESP funds for paying his second term at
the university he was attending, and the money never arrived. Now he was
locked out of his school internet account where all of his homework was
posted, and he was facing an automatic "fail" in one of his classes, not
due to lack of studying or intellect, but rather, to failure to pay.
Thankfully, he was given a two week "grace period" before failing
his class, and lifting up our voices to the Lord in praise, we gave Him
the problem. There was no way we could take control of this one. Only
the Miracle Worker could come up with that kind of money in such a short
period of time.
That was also a very busy week for me at work. I
found myself behind the steering wheel more than behind my desk, and I
had no opportunity to even think about the circumstances confronting my
son. There was only one day that week where I would be at my regular
work location. How could I help him out?
The evening before the
one full day at work, I was busy trying to scramble enough funds from
our meager savings to pay my son's bill. The only problem was that it
takes time for a cheque to clear the bank and to be transferred to
another institution. While I was trying to get it all together, I had an
encounter with my chequebook. It somehow succeeded in hitting me
straight in my right eye (I had no idea that paper could be that
rebellious!). It started to hurt, and at four in the morning I woke up
with extreme pain in my eye.
I called in to work that morning,
requesting a half-day off, and headed straight for ER where I discovered
that I had done a very good job of cutting my eye. Antibiotics were
prescribed, and on the way to the pharmacy I suddenly had the urge to
stop by the bank. Just to "see" if there was any way the funds would be
available. While parking my car, I could hear my Heavenly Father's
voice: "I have given you this half day so that you can help your son.
Enjoy!"
With the cheque from another bank in my hand, I faced the
clerk. "If I deposit this today, will I have access to these funds
immediately?" I asked.
The clerk hesitated, "It generally takes
three business days sir for a cheque to clear. I will see what I can
do."
Why is it that we always perspire in such situations? And I
was dripping wet when she returned. "The funds are available as of now,
sir!"
Wow! That was a miracle in itself! Thank you Lord!
My next problem was how to transfer these funds to my son's university,
because once again, the transfer of funds was supposed to take three
business days.
After a brief stop at the pharmacy, I headed home
to transfer the funds for my son's second term. I felt complete inner
peace after the transaction, assured that the money would clear the next
day. And indeed, they did, paying my son's account in full. God truly
came through.
My son couldn't believe it. This whole time he had
been in the eye of the hurricane of events. He could feel the terror
surrounding him, but felt sheltered in the peace of God, as He was the
One in control of the events. The impossible had turned into an
opportunity to experience God fully.
Nothing is impossible to our
Lord. He is in control! As long as we hang on our own circumstances, we
will never realize that God is way above our problems and He can and
will come through for us.
Oh, and my eye healed up nicely within
a few days. All pain went away and God was glorified.
Are you
facing a bill that seems impossible to be paid? Only One can help you
out, and it isn't the loan shark!
Rob Chaffart