Ponder This: Looking back, where can you see God’s hand guiding your steps even when the path ahead seemed uncertain?
Scripture To Consider: The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. -Psalm 37:23-24
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Tom's Response: The steps of a man are established by the Lord, but he does give us free will. God lets us dream, plan, and make decisions, but His wisdom is perfect and ultimately directs our outcomes. Some of those outcomes are unpleasant and uncomfortable. In 2006, our businesses were doing very well. We had acquired a historic home to renovate, a lot to build a new historic home, and our cleaning business was exploding. In 2007, Karen became ill and was in and out of the hospital after having Billy. We then entered a recession, and no one was buying the home we had renovated. We were halfway through the 2nd home. The debt on those builds was overwhelming. Our cleaning business lost roughly half of its revenue. It got so bad that even our dog Early ran away while we were visiting the hospital in South Florida.
The path did not just seem uncertain; it seemed impossible to overcome, and that is when God took over. He brought us the world's top colorectal surgeon to heal Karen. My friends sent me a referral, and the home sold. Our cleaning business began to attract really large homes and bring in a new source of revenue. We moved into our new home. Our baby boy turned 2 and was a joy to everyone. Not long after that, Karen started PrayerBowls. That's quite the turnaround.
I did not trust God's plan at that time, but I do now. In times that are not comfortable, I know He is shaping my path to best serve His purpose and deepen our relationship.
Karen's Response: A few years back, we had to pull our son out of our local public high school due to some medical issues. At the time, I was very weary and anxious about the decision, but looking back, I can see God’s hand guiding us through the uncertain path. From the people we connected with who helped us navigate the world of homeschooling to the protection my son was given during these formative years, God provided guidance every step. When the time came to seriously begin looking at and applying to colleges, landing at a Christ-focused college became Billy’s number one priority. The place he will attend is a university we had never heard of a year ago: Union University in Jackson, TN, which God revealed. When he walked the campus last summer and took the tour, he knew it was the place he was meant to be.
Fast forward a year - we just returned from orientation and were surrounded by people who shine the light of Jesus. One of the speakers, a current student who had gotten extremely sick during her freshman year with an autoimmune disease, had each person pull out the pen and pad they were given and write these words: “(Their name) is a child of God, created for a purpose, and loved beyond measure by their Creator.” She went on to say that there would be hard days and hard seasons in life, but knowing who you are - a child of God who is with you and for you - is what gets you through even the toughest day. She also said the teachers and staff at Union are there not only to provide an excellent education but also to love and encourage you, as Christ commanded us to do. What a beautiful thing for my son to hear. Someone who gets the difficulty of being a student with a medical diagnosis and how the school helped her navigate the challenges that come with it. Then the university president came up to speak, and what he did made my jaw drop. He gave his direct cell phone number to all the parents and students. WOW! What a gift to know Billy, who will be 12 hours away from home, is in such a loving and caring environment. A place that prides itself on a Christ-focused education. A place that will challenge Billy academically while also encouraging him to grow stronger in his faith. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for him over the next 4 years, for I know Billy’s steps are established by the LORD.
