A little before 6AM, in the middle of the worse ice storm this area of Texas had seen in 15 years, one of the trees in my backyard toppled onto my house. The house I am trying to sell because now being widowed I can no longer afford it. It bobbed up and down in the 45 mph winds, screeching against my breakfast room bay window, blocking the view. My first thought was the man who’d know what to do was no longer there to fix this. I felt such a wave of loneliness, despair and anxiousness. I called my sister long distance and blubbered tears to her over the phone. I tried for two hours to get the insurance claims office on the phone, but due to the ice storm, all calls were routed to another city and they had no list of people to call who could help me. I called 911. The firemen came and said it was to big to move off my house. I’d need a tree service, but in this ice storm . . .
I sat on the couch, knees curled up, listening to each thud and screech as the tree continued to bob in the wind. Then I remembered who I should call – the Man who will always be there. The One who made the tree. The One I should have called on first and foremost. Still crying like a scared child, I prayed. I called a prayer warrior friend who prayed with me.
The next few hours all fell into place. The Claims Center called. I found a tree service company in my town- the first number I googled- who was open. Three men and their wives braved the weather to come and help the widow. They arrived right as the tree groaned, moving further into my house. My realtor found roofer who will waive the Insurance deductible to repair the roof, and Praise God, the tree did not break into the attic. As soon as I called the right Person, all (pardon the pun) fell into place.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. . .” Luke 10:41-42a
How often do we let panic mode take over and fall apart instead of falling to our knees? A tree fell on my house yesterday, but until I fell into the arms of my Savior, nothing was going to be resolved. Actually with that big old willow gone, the yard looks bigger and there is now a sunny spot perfect for some future child’s playground set. May be a selling feature!
Whatever “tree” is falling in your life, seek God to provide protection, the right help at the right time and the peace to endure the process.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” John 14:1
