Hopefully it's common knowledge that health care in America is not cheap, I wish that would change in a way that benefited everyone, however that seems far off. I recently experienced the expense of health care after an ER visit for stitches. It was a Sunday evening and I was making my lunch for the week- Sarmale, a personal favorite from my time in Romania- when my hand slipped and my knife cut though both the cabbage I was holding and through the skin of my hand. It was a bit scary, but a short visit to the ER and one week of healing later and I was fine.
Then came the bill. Quite a substantial bill. Since I am living with my parents the bill arrived at their home so my dad opened it and started fuming- according to my mother, I cannot testify as I was not present. When I got home my dad was asleep and my mother tried to break the news goodheartedly and gently. But what I don't think what either of my parents expected was my response of complete calm and my words "It's only money."
Now, to be perfectly clear- That is not me. I have almost never been Miss Calm and Peaceful, just ask any one of my friends, if they tell you I am they are being sweet and lying (thank you!) No, this calm comes from something deep inside of my heart that was learned the hard way. It's called faith.
My faith has not always been strong, it still isn't in many ways. But in this one small area it is. Because of much doubt and provision, through trial and error and God's good grace He has taught me that in light of eternity money is nothing. Yes, that's right, you heard me correctly--money is nothing. It is temporal not eternal. It is so unbelievably tiny and insignificant in the big scheme of things, no matter how much you have it really gets you so little. I want you to know there is a God out there who is so much bigger than any problem you face. You need only ask and He will provide for all of your needs. The New Testament gives the example of an earthly father- that if you asked your father for something you needed and he was able to provide, wouldn't he do what he could to help his child? Do we really expect our God to be less loving than an earthly father?
In this one aspect of my life I have always depended on Christ's love and grace. I have all the proof I need. He has come through time after time for me. Even now that I have a good job and a decent savings account, I knew that He would take care of me, that He was and is my provider, my rock, my refuge, my everything.When you have a need, please go to Jesus, even if you doubt just ask Him to help you and ask Him to provide and then expect Him to do it. I hope He blows your mind! He has always done so for me.
To finish up I'll tell you I had every intention of paying this bill off as fast as I could, with part of my savings and part of my next two paychecks. However, today I got a text from my mom. It read "Good news- your ER bill went down to $464" that's from over $1,300. I am glad to say that through God's goodness and provision I can pay that off tomorrow without any problem. Not by my work or my doing, but through his blessings.
He is so much bigger than any of your "big problems" any of your too-stressed-to-sleep stresses. He needs only to lift a finger to assist you and you need only ask. He may ask you to wait, He may test your faith, but know- He is faithful!
We are talking about the God who split the Red Sea in half, the God who made it rain bread from heaven in the desert for his people, the God who multiplied bread for thousands and turned water into wine. Do you really thing that He can't provide for you?
"In this world you will have trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world." John 16:33
