I didn’t know what I was hearing. I only knew I shouldn’t be hearing it. Barely awake when I exited our bedroom at 5:30 a.m., I followed the sound downstairs to the laundry room. The hissing sound I had tracked revealed itself to be water squirting seemingly everywhere. It reminded me of a movie scene where a compartment of a ship fills with water as the ship is about to sink. I screamed for my husband, Doug, who came quickly then went to the basement to turn off the water.
It was a mess. Water soaked through the floor to the basement, and a river of water ran under the basement door and over our neighbor’s driveway.
Doug called our son, Paul, who lived nearby and he soon arrived to help with clean up. Paul investigated and found the source of the leak to be a connection under the laundry room sink. He turned off the water to the sink so we could have water to the rest of the house.
The world doesn’t stop because we have personal crises to deal with. I had responsibilities to a Bible study that would meet that morning. Because of the flood distraction, I didn’t have much time to get ready. I also couldn’t have my usual quiet time with my Bible to prepare for the day, so I did something I rarely do. I opened my Bible to a random page, and asked the Lord to just give me something– anything to clear my thinking.
The Bible fell open in Psalms. At the top left corner my eyes fell on verses I had previously underlined in Psalm 46. The Lord is our refuge, the Lord is our strength . . . So we will not fear when . . . the waters surge. (Psalm 46:1-3 NLT) Seriously? I appreciated His sense of humor, but found myself saying, “I need something more than this.” Then my eyes fell to the opposite corner of the two open pages, to another verse I had underlined at some previous time. Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God . . .(Psalm 50:14 NLT)
Ironically, just a few days before I told a despairing friend the remedy for discouragement is praise and thanksgiving, especially when we don’t feel like offering it. A sacrifice. The thought had not occurred to me as the waters raged. Not once. The Lord redirected my thoughts when I looked to Scripture. He reminded me I had much for which to be thankful–life itself, a home to live in, Doug and Paul being there so I didn’t have to deal with the problem on my own. Because our son figured out what was leaking, I was able to shower and make coffee. They were both willing to take care of the situation while I went on to my Bible study. The Lord showed me that whatever our circumstances, He is a gracious, generous God and He has given us so many reasons to be thankful, all beyond anything we deserve.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Blessings,
Phyllis
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Copyright 2022 Phyllis L. Farringer
I laughed out loud at the Psalm 46:1-3 quote due to the circumstance! God DOES have a sense of humor. More importantly, rejoicing and praising in all circumstances is a wonderful spiritual discipline. It works!
Absolutely!