Nearly 5 weeks ago, we left the cozy Airbnb, and entered right into ‘storm season’. It was not even a day after we arrived at the hotel in the suburbs, that my car was taken. 

Living in complete dependence on God’s plans, I have found that His timing and His ways are not always what I want at that time. It has been very humbling and a challenge to accept. But each storm holds a lesson, just like a storm birthing a colorful rainbow. There is a reason for every part of this journey. 

To be perfectly honest, I had been very irritated and tired of the journey, wanting it to be over. From those feelings of unrest, God took me through a time of re-surrender, and trusting in His plans. 

After my car was towed away, the Lord led me to a used car lot to buy a car with the money I had been given for the hotel. I drove away with a car that was entirely paid for, and I thought that the storms were over. 

Every few days, God would release a little bit to keep paying for our rooms, according to His promise to be our Refuge. It was really hard to go through so many changes, and to have my faith pressed in ways that I was sick and tired of doing. 

During the course of 4 weeks, we moved into 3 different hotels. All the moving had my head spinning, and I barely had time to re-adjust, before the Lord would move us again. 

One thing that I have had to adapt to during this journey, is we never get to stay…anywhere. We always have a moving bedroom, and with every move, we must carry all of our belongings. 

But just like Psalm 119, it is the promise of God that is a comfort to me during the affliction. I hold His promises to support us, and for our own home, as a locket on my chest. 

While we were at the most recent hotel, I had to have unexpected work done to the emergency car that we got. That work uncovered many dangers that I did not know, and I suddenly found myself in urgent need of costly repairs. In the beginning, God always promised us personally that we would not lose our car, and I didn’t realize that the promise would cover many cars, but it did. He always made sure we were not stranded at any time. 

As I was praying about the repair funds, God kept showing me new cars. Then, He took me into an encounter, and He made me a promise of a SOVEREIGN approval for a new car, based on His worthiness and not my tarnished credit. 

That sounded about as impossible as Sarah having a baby in old age, and I was completely humiliated at the thought of marching into a car dealership with my circumstances of a recent repo, no wordly income, and no home. 

But like the disciples going back out to cast their nets for a great haul, based on the instructions of Jesus, I took the risk of complete embarrassment. I went into the dealership next to the hotel with complete honesty, and I was expecting to be sent away. 

However, I stayed there for 3 hours and at the last try, they came back with an approval! The approval was contingent on a very large down payment, but God has given me a promise for that, and His word is gold. 

When God told me to share this update with you, I wept in my sleep. Being outwardly open, when I am hurting, is the worst for me. I am naturally an introvert, and I prefer to process things privately. 

But once again, I will follow His instructions and not my own feelings. We are on the last day of our hotel stay, and waiting for the miracle promised provisions to have our refuge. 

Not only that, but I have been trying not to drive the other car, because of the dangers it carries. The new car place is waiting for me to go in there and pick up my miracle new car, but it is all resting in God’s promised rescue and support. 

Yet, the other night, I had this encounter with God. We were looking over the water, and there was a big storm coming towards us with thunder and lightening, and violent crashing rain. 

As we were watching the storm approach, Jesus said to me, “let’s go inside and take refuge”. When He said that to me, I had a light bulb moment of revelation. I said to Him, “I forgot we could do that!”

In that instance, I remembered God’s promise to cover us. Then after that He said, “It is My delight to support you and lift you up”…like a weak vine in John 15, God would lift us up to bring out tangible fruit. 

Even as scared as I was yesterday with so many pressures, and worries, I just recited those words over and over, like trying to calm a crying baby with milk. It helped me to remember His words of comfort and protection from the strong storms passing through. 

I have not been active on social media because of all I have been going through. I have been overwhelmed, exhausted, and hurting very much. When I am in pain, I go within to find comfort from the Lord. 

However, last night He asked me to share a different image of myself. One that is messy, not perfect, and who has so many hidden troubles that no one knows about. Honestly, it is refreshing to just be real, and not try to pretend that walking by faith is easy, because it is not. 

The beauty of it is, the storm often brings out the glory of a rainbow. Just as the troubles always seem to come just before a fulfilled promise. So when it rains, I’ll look for the rainbow, and I will choose to believe that Jesus is forever faithful. Sometimes the promises of God come in ways that we didn’t expect or understand, but they always show up to save the day, when we apply our vulnerability of hope and faith. 

He didn’t bring us this far, and for this long of a journey, to leave us now. It may be raining at the moment, but I am sure the next page will present something lovely that will far surpass the difficulties that this moment has had. 

I love you, 

Dannette 

https://diamondsfromthedust.com/