About nine months ago my husband unexpectedly lost his job. Actually he was wrongfully fired. Since he is the breadwinner in our house, this was absolutely devastating for our family. However, looking back I can see the Lord’s provision and protection for me, my husband, and our family throughout this whole journey.

Let me set the stage a little so you can get a better picture of what was happening as we ventured into this new season of life.

A few weeks before Matt lost his job, he surprised me with a shiny new Harley Davidson motorcycle in the driveway. For those of you who know me well, you know that I do not like motorcycles. The thought of even owning one gives me instant indigestion. So you can imagine my reaction when I pulled into our driveway after picking up the kids from school and saw a Harley parked in the place of my husband’s truck.

At first, I thought it was a big joke, but I quickly learned that he was the new owner of this bike. The joke was on me…I was so mad and angry. I was crying hysterically at the thought of Matt’s body potentially being thrown across the road one day like roadkill. I know, I can be dramatic.

My daughter quickly put my anxiety at ease as she looked over the bike and noticed my expression. In her childlike innocence and wisdom, she looked at me and asked, “Momma, why are you so mad? Don’t you see how happy Poppa is?” That was it! That sweet little whisper from Elliott changed everything because it wasn’t only Elliott speaking to me, it was also the Lord and if I had not listened, I would have missed this moment where my heart needed to soften. Matt was happy and this bike brought him joy in a season of life that was so dark and dreary for him. So, I learned to be content with the bike. I didn’t like it and I still don’t, but it allows Matt to escape from reality a few hours out of the week. It allows him to be out on open roads to process the events of the week and feel a little less burdened with the things surrounding him. Little did we know, there would be a lot more to process in the next few weeks.

Fast forward a few weeks later. The kids and I were headed to California for a family funeral. Matt wasn’t able to come because of work commitments, so I was on my own with all three of our kids. The day before the funeral, Matt called me with a sickening tone in his voice. I knew instantly that something was wrong, really wrong, but he didn’t want to tell me with the kids in the car. So I had to wait and anticipate what was going on for the two-hour drive to L.A. from Orange County. I couldn’t get there fast enough.

As soon as the kids were settled at our friend’s house, I anxiously went out to their backyard and called Matt. The first words out of his mouth were, “I just got fired.” He was devastated and at a loss of what to do. I could hear him choking up as we talked about what happened. Nothing made sense. He didn’t do anything wrong and yet they were accusing him of something so horrible. His boss never even investigated the incident to verify the accusations. What happened next could only be the work of the Lord.

This was probably the most inconvenient time for my husband to be fired; I was in another state with our three kids for a funeral and I didn’t have the privacy or time to find a solution. We didn’t even know when our next paycheck was going to come in. I had every reason to freak out, but the Lord strengthened me to be a light for Matt and our family. It would have been easy for me to tear him down and call his boss to give him a piece of my mind. In an instant we lost a LOT! We lost our income, financial stability, a company car that we didn’t have to pay insurance or gas on, a phone, a computer, and our health insurance. Matt was stripped of everything and I wasn’t there to comfort him. Suddenly that motorcycle he bought a few weeks earlier was a huge blessing, otherwise, he would have had no transportation while I was out of town. What perfect timing the enemy has when he attacks our family, but how sweet the Lord is to go before us and pave the way. 

Instead, I told Matt what a good husband he is and how much I trusted that the Lord was going to provide for us. I wasn’t worried at all about how the bills were going to be paid, but I was worried about my husband’s heart. We can all be a lot of things, but one thing I know my husband isn’t, a thief. My husband’s integrity had just been called into question and that was the fire that was burning inside my soul.

As we continue to pick up the pieces since this trial, here are a few things we’ve learned: 

1. Count your blessings. Matt and I have been through a lot in our marriage. We have had a lot of loss, but we have also been extremely blessed. If we don’t take the time to reflect on what the Lord has blessed us with, how can we ever believe or trust that the Lord is going to use all things for His good? “All things” doesn’t mean that it will be easy or come without some pain.

As James 1:2-3 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

2. Stand firm in the truth. I won’t lie, the days and weeks after Matt lost his job, we were scared. There were moments I wanted to break down and cry. However, I knew that if I let the enemy have his way, he would win. I wasn’t willing to play his game this time. Many things have come against us since that day, but instead of buying into the lies, I choose to stand on the truth that He is with me in all things. 

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

3. Remember that trials are to be expected, but God is always with us. The Lord allows us to go through different seasons of life and even difficult trials, so we may rely on Him more and more. From the moment I was on the phone with Matt and once I returned home to an unknown future, I had no other choice than to trust that the Lord was good and was going to provide. When I press into the Lord in the hard times, I will respond more like Him. It takes moments like this for me to know that He is doing a good work in me and I am His precious child.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

In the comments below, share what you have learned from the Lord through experiencing trials and temptations? 

Dana lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, Matt and they will celebrate our 14 years of marriage this year. They have three amazing and busy children, Wyatt (13), Elliott (10), and Gretta (6).  She fell in love with Revelation Wellness before it was a nonprofit and is now the RevWellTV Producer.

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Workout with us in this #wednesdayworkout! For more workouts like this, visit RevWell TV!

MICHELE’S HIP OPENER – “DEEP PLACES” 

Our hips don’t lie! Knee pain and low back pain often stem from chronically tight hips. With all the daily movement of life we encounter, it’s impossible for our hips to not get overworked. In this class, we will go slow and deep into the major muscles of the hip. Freeing you up to move with more mobility and agility will be the result of time spent in this workout. (ALL LEVELS) (ZEPHANIAH 3:17; YOGA MAT)