“It is not what happens to you, it is how you respond to it.”
My car broke down a week before I was suppose to put it on the auto train to get home to Pennsylvania. Immediately, I was concerned. I brought my car to the shop on a Monday, in hopes it would be ready in time for my train ride on the next Sunday. $500 and 5 days later, and my car was “ready” to go on Friday (2 days before train take off). Phew, although it was a major chunk out of my bank account, at least I would be able to get home and work enough to pay it off.
Saturday comes, the day after I picked up my car, one day before my train departure. I find out my Grandpa fell and couldn’t move, so I arrive at the hospital with my cousin to visit him. Another circumstance to go wrong (greaaaat). I bring my cousin home from the hospital, and GUESS WHAT.
My car breaks down again. Yes, after I had just picked it up. Yes, after it was just fixed. Yes, after I just paid $500 for it. With my train ticket being the next day, I had to cancel my ride home. There goes another $300 wasted. I was stressed, broke, worried, & emotional (a wonderful combination, right?). Can you feel the frustration?
On top of this, two of my close friends shared very difficult circumstances they were going through that same day. My heart hurt for them, and I was overwhelmed at how this day in particular was turning out. NOTHING was going as planned, and NOTHING was in my control anymore. It hard, you know, when you can’t control a situation and feel helpless.
My friend, Bree, texted me that night, and asked how I was doing (loaded question, am i right?) I ended up sending her a LONG paragraph filled with everything that had gone wrong – grandpa in the hospital, car issues, wasted money, friends going through hard circumstances, etc. At the end of my text to Bree, I said, “When it rains, it pours.” I meant this in the most negative way possible. Not only did one thing need to go wrong, it felt like EVERYTHING went wrong at once, in the same day. Just a little rain, I could have handled.
An hour later, after my complaining session and long text to Bree was sent, someone (who will remain anonymous, let’s call this person “Bob”) texted me asking for my blog link to donate money towards my trip. I sent Bob the link, and right then and there he donated ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. Then Bob texted me saying that there would be a donation of a total of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. At the end of Bob’s text, he said, “When it rains, it pours.”
How could he have known that I JUST used that exact same phrase in the most negative of ways, and here he was using it in the most positive way possible?!? Instead of a little rain, God sent a POURING of His blessings. God used Bob to teach me that it’s not what happens to you, but rather it is how you respond to it. Although my little problems were dramatized and are not nearly as bad as what many others are suffering through today, it felt big in that moment. There are always two ways to look at any situation. We can be defeated by our circumstances, or find a way to move forward.
WOW, God is totally in the details of my trip and in all of our lives in general. How dare I doubt that or become so defeated by the little problems I was facing in this day? God is in the small details, and I am striving to see his hand in every moment.
A little encouragement for you & also for me: Don’t let the phrase “when it rains, it pours” determine how your day will go for the worse. Instead, expect GREAT things to happen. Expect God to not only bless you a little but to bless you a LOT. So God, bring on the rain, and pour out your blessings!
*** (Also, side note, my grandpa is doing better and was placed in a nursing home for rehab before he can return home. My car seems to be running fine now, and I am trying the auto train to PA again on Friday. Prayers are definitely appreciated, especially for my dear friends who need it most.)
