The Lord's Angel Encamps Around Us

FaithWalkDaily October 20, 2008

~ Ps 34:77 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Maybe you've been going through some heavy times lately as we have. Not to whine, harp, complain or burden you with my troubles, but for your understanding, we have a full litter box of problems right now.

My hip joint is bone on bone and needs repair as soon as possible - this news came just after we'd reduced our insurance coverage to save money, since we're already in a financial puddle. Now an operation that might have cost us a few hundred dollars co-pay will cost us many thousands of dollars if I can't wait until open enrollment next summer.

We have a rental property that has never been profitable and barely pays it's own mortgage. Ten months ago the tenants broke their lease and jumped ship without notice, leaving the place in an absolute shambles. A 1950's Georgia shanty would have been a nicer place to live than what these people did to our home. There was animal feces and urine in the carpets, screens torn to shreds, doors twisted and broken, light switches broken off, electrical outlets completely torn apart (not just the cover plate removed) and left with wiring dangerously exposed, light fixtures broken, holes punched and kicked in every wall and door, brand new wood flooring destroyed with deep gouges, bath fixtures cracked, smashed, missing parts and filthy. I have never seen anything like it and can't even imagine how people with 6 children could live like that - not that children don't make messes - but that it's so unsafe for them. It's heartbreaking not only because of all the work we've had to pay for and do ourselves with no chance of reimbursement, it has destroyed my trust of all future tenants.

While we've been working on the rental house the past few weeks, at some point a thief came in the night and stole the central air conditioner from the side of the house. They just tore it completely apart, took the parts they wanted, and left it strewn all over the side yard, utterly destroyed. It can't be repaired. This was a brand new unit 3 years ago, to the tune of a few thousand dollars that we can't afford to replace. When my husband picked up the fan portion that was laying on the ground while talking to a deputy during the burglary report, the thing began to spin and nearly took his hand off. Those idiots didn't even cut the wires or disconnect them in any way - just tore the thing apart and left it exposed like that.

What is this all about? It's hard not to be angry, depressed, and frankly not to just get up and run away. Not that I haven't thought about it...

I have a God who loves us, who knows everything we're going through, and who reminds us He has everything under control. As I was tossing and turning last night unable to sleep, I began to pray. The Holy Spirit whispered to me that God wants to teach us something.

I pray we'll be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and willing to accept the lesson we're given.

I pray we'll be alert to what God is doing so we can be obedient to follow.

I pray we'll be wiser in the future and not get burned again.

I'm trusting that the angel of the LORD encamps around us and will deliver us.

Heavenly Father, You are holy and righteous, we are not. We bow before You humbly, knowing we don't get half what we deserve - thank You for that! Forgive us for our sin Lord, for the pride that says I don't deserve what I'm going through; for the ugliness that wishes it were someone elses trouble; for the resentment I've carried toward those who have hurt us; for my unwillingness to see my own part in it all; for my anger and bitterness and the foul words that have escaped my heart and lips. Cleanse me O Lord, make me new and holy, a cheerful representative of my Lord and Savior Jesus. Thank You that You are an ever-present God who cares for our every need, who's angel encamps around us to deliver us. Thank You for this trial by fire that's refining us. Thank You for whatever the the outcome of our situation. We praise You night and day. In Jesus' name, amen.