“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall”
Mending Wall by Robert Frost
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 17:20
I looked at the budget and I couldn’t figure out how I was going to make it work adding in a car payment, but my car at the time was a source of stress every time I drove it. I had been praying for a way to get a replacement, but nothing seemed to work out. Then, I got a text about a car just like I had been praying about becoming available and I was approved for a loan in a payment range that was acceptable. Still, I wasn’t sure how I was going to make the budget work.
13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.
Joshua 6:13-16
Joshua was up against more than a budget. He was literally up against a wall, a really big wall. When he asked God what to do, He told him to march around the city for six days and then gave Joshua special instructions for the seventh day. Joshua was staring at some serious walls, and God said to march around the city. How was that going to take down the walls? Still, Joshua was obedient and followed instructions.
After looking at the car and praying, I felt a peace about buying the car. Still, I worried about how I was going to make payments, so I prayed that God would give me a chance to make more income or show me how to trim the budget. I was looking at a way to pay the length of the loan,
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
Joshua 6:20
Finally, I prayed that He would show me something to let me know that I was on the right path. The next morning I got an email saying I had received a tax credit for my health insurance and would have to make no payments for the rest of the year. I also received a notice that my student loan payment, which is on an income driven plan, would also be $0 for the rest of the year. The two combined were basically equal to a car payment. The budget would work for the rest of the year.
Joshua was probably looking for God to give Him a plan on how best to attack the city and was probably a little confused by the idea of just walking around the city. Surely he needed to do more. I felt the same way. What did I need to do to make something happen? God, however, was already making a way for me just like He did Joshua, a way that neither of us would have imagined.
Sometimes we try to figure out ways to climb a wall that God wants to take down for us. Why? Why not just give Joshua a normal battle plan? Why not just give me another avenue for added income? God’s ways are definitely not our ways, but He is working for our best. Sometimes God uses methods that seem crazy to the world because He wants to grow our faith and He wants the glory.
When we accomplish things on our own, we tend to take credit for them and start to rely on ourselves. The problem is that nothing we do is on our own. Everything we have, God has given us, from our talents to our very breath. When He does things in a way that only He can do, it draws attention and praise to where it should rightly go.
So, when you are up against a wall, pray for guidance and be obedient. He may open up a new job for you, or He may ask you do something that seems a little crazy. Whatever it is, you can’t go wrong when you follow God’s leading. If the world thinks you’re a little crazy, so be it, but rest assured God will make a way even when your against a wall.