“Trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” (1 Peter 4:19)
Recently, I was reading through Psalms. In chapter 28, it reads “I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of Thanksgiving.” My first thought was, “Oh neat, it’s almost Thanksgiving!” but as a looked at the words more and read them aloud again, I really felt that they capture what my life has looked like this past month. I want to share with you what happens when you aren’t afraid to trust the Lord completely.
About a month ago this week, on my way to the movies with my little sister, I rear ended a brand new car, and my Jeep was totaled. Two days ago, I was finally able to get a new car! During the time in between, I had to learn to trust God even when it was easier to be scared.
From anyone’s perspective, I had a lot to be scared about. I was not in a financial situation to buy a car, my car insurance was going to be more expensive because I caused the accident, and I had no idea how to look for, check out, or actually purchase a car! I had to rely on my boyfriend and others for rides to work every day, and I had to ask people to take me to the grocery store when I needed to buy food. I needed a lot of advice about car shopping, and I didn’t want to be a burden to anyone because of a mistake that was my fault.
I didn’t know what to do, and I didn’t see how things were going to work out. I’ve learned within the last year that things don’t usually work out when I try to depend on myself and my own strength. Things tend to work out when I pray and ask God to help me. So that is what I did!
Now, because I’m at the end of this little journey, I’m able to look back and tell you how everything came together perfectly. If you’re still in the middle, or at the beginning of a time of hardship, do not treat this as a story of someone else receiving breakthrough! Believe that this is exactly how YOUR story can end too, if you choose to trust God!
I scoured the internet looking for cars, made huge spreadsheets with tons of details, and learned that all the guys in my boyfriend’s design firm know 150% more about cars than I do. They took time to let me know which cars were good, and which were bad! Then, a wonderful, selfless person who shall remain nameless actually bought a car for me! This allows me to keep some cash in savings and pay them back without taking out a loan! On top of this, my insurance actually got cheaper! The way God provided the perfect vehicle was just outright amazing… I’m still overjoyed!
“Give all your worries and cares to the Lord, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
We narrowed our search to two or three models of cars that we found to be safe, reliable, and affordable, but there didn’t seem to be any for sale in Ohio. Issues kept hindering our search, so Michael and I prayed about the cars we were looking into and asked God to clearly show us whether or not they were the car I should get. And he did! All kinds of things happened that were discouraging in the moment, like mapping wrong directions to a test drive, and cars not meeting inspections, but we knew it was God’s protection and guidance, so we continued to thank and trust Him!
Then on Sunday afternoon, I ended up talking with a lady who had the PERFECT, better-than-I-could-have-asked-for car. The only trouble was there were two people scheduled to test drive it before us. For a second I started to panic, because I just knew this was the car! But then as I prayed, God reminded me that he is a Perfect Provider. Instead of worrying that I wouldn’t get the car, I thanked God for providing the perfect car for me, I believed that this car was mine, and I trusted HIM to make it happen. In the end, and after a crazy, miracle-filled night, I drove home with that car!
I haven’t always trusted the Lord this much. It is still a day by day process. But this car reminds me how incredibly faithful He is, and how it is up to me to allow God to provide for me each and every time I have a need! It IS worth it!
“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” (Psalm 16:11)
Isabel Siegel is 18 years old and lives in Westerville, Ohio. She has a passion for all aspects of wellness – organic veggies, nature adventures, and the pursuit and understanding of truth. Non-fiction books, house plants, trips to Whole Foods, and running at Hoover Reservoir are some of the things she loves to do. She is a true conversationalist, and an ideas girl with a massive love for connecting with people. Right now, the Lord is teaching her to trust Him, and to dream big.
