JoAnn disconnected the call and buried her head in her hands. She shot off a quick text to her husband to let him know.

They didn’t get the house. Someone had outbid them again.

Jimmy would be starting school in a few months and they needed to move out of their tiny apartment. The house wasn’t perfect, but it was close to the school. If they moved closer, she’d be able to drop him off before work. She sighed. Why was God making everything so complicated? They’d visited 11 houses in the last month, put in and lost bids on six of them. Would they ever get out of the apartment?

Enough stalling. She’d better get back to work before her boss caught her. This job wasn’t great, but it helped pay the bills. They needed her salary. Oh, how she wished she could stay home with Jimmy, even have another baby, but there wasn’t money for that.

Before she left the break room, her phone rang. She glanced at it. Henry. He never called during the day. Something else must be wrong. He wouldn’t call just because of her text about the house. Losing out on houses was routine now. She picked up the call.

“Hey, Honey, I’m sorry to bother you, but I need you to pray. There’s a lot of chatter at work about big changes coming our way. I’m afraid I might lose my job. There’s a meeting this afternoon.”

JoAnn’s heart sank. What would they do? Tears threatened, but she swallowed hard, blinking them back. “Of course, I’ll pray. Be strong. I love you, no matter what.” JoAnn hurried from the break room, back to work, hoping no one noticed she was late. Now she needed this job more than ever. She spent the rest of the afternoon in a daze, praying fervently that Henry wouldn’t lose his job, that they’d get a house close to the school, that somehow they’d be able to make ends meet. At the end of the day, she walked out to her car, her nerves in a frayed knot. Henry hadn’t called back, so the news must not be good.

A voice called out from behind her. “JoAnn!”

JoAnn turned to find Mae Andrews, the pastor’s wife, hurrying her way. “How are you, dear?”

JoAnn shrugged. “To be honest, it’s been a difficult day.”

Mae patted her arm. “I could tell something was wrong. Your shoulders were slumped and you were plodding along on your way to the car. Do you want to talk about it?”  

“I need to get to the day care to pick up Jimmy, so I don’t have much time. The short story is, I’m afraid God has forgotten about us. Things are tough right now and I don’t understand what He’s doing.”

“I won’t keep you,” Mae said, “but God has not forgotten about you. God works all things together for good.”

“Thanks, Mae. I’ll see you Sunday.”

JoAnn picked Jimmy up from day care and the worries of the day fled her mind as he chattered about his day. Back at home, Jimmy rushed inside to play with his trucks. JoAnn headed into the kitchen to start dinner. She passed by the family pictures lining the hallway. She paused to touch one. How she missed her sister. Lisa’s family had moved to Springfield a month ago. Lisa had been such a support to JoAnn before moving away. The sisters chatted multiple times a week while their children played together. Now JoAnn was stuck here in a dead-end job in a tiny apartment which they wouldn’t even be able to afford if Henry lost his job. She’d never felt more alone.

Thirty minutes later, dinner was in the oven when Henry came home. His face was unreadable. JoAnn sprang to her feet. “Well?”

Henry pinched his lips together. “They’re closing the site.”

JoAnn crumpled. “Oh no. Henry, I’m so sorry.”           

Henry touched JoAnn’s shoulder. “No, wait. Listen. They’re closing the site here, but I’m being transferred to Springfield.

JoAnn’s spirits lifted. “Springfield? Where Lisa’s family is?”

Henry grinned. “That’s right. I’m so glad God didn’t give us any of those houses. Could you imagine how much of a mess we’d be in with a new house and no job here? Oh, and the best part is, I’m getting a 20% raise and a relocation package. We can get a house close to Lisa, and you wouldn’t need to work if you didn’t want to, since the cost of living is so much less out there.”

JoAnn’s eyes filled with tears. All this time, with Lisa’s move and all those rejected house offers, God had something better in mind. She’d never doubt him again.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God, thank You for always taking care of us. Sometimes we don’t understand the things that are happening, but in all things, in the good and the bad, we know You love us and have a plan for our lives. We often try to do things in our own strength when we don’t need to. Please help us trust You more, and follow Your will for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.