How does one find peace in unwanted circumstances? As I stand in inches of toilet water, I am thinking to myself, “THIS IS NOT WHAT I NEED.”It has been a week full of heart-wrenching difficult things. Indeed, I cried out, “God, could I not get a tiny bitty break – my heart is already bleeding from within.”
With no audible answer from God, I quickly took hold of him, with all of my being. My circumstances seemed cruel, and yet I moved forward with mind, body, and soul –
Chose To Trust GOD
I reminded myself of all that God had done in my past. Together we had seen much worse. With water permeating most corners of my home, I knew that this was nothing God couldn’t handle. I heard God’s little whispers; “Maree, I am with you.”
Right there at that moment, a feeling of peace that made no human sense filled me from head to toes. This peace was incredible, but life had taught me a few things over the years, and I knew this feeling was hard to hang on to.
With a peace-filled heart, I knew I could choose to accept my circumstances and move forward or fight them for a bit. So with wet feet, I decided to say, “It is what it is.”
Chose Acceptance
Had I not decided to accept my current situation, I would have started the ugly tantrum dance. My ranting and raving for sure would have driven the kind plumber out of my house, leaving me to fend for myself. Without acceptance, I would have wasted precious minutes in getting the help this family so desperately needed.
Yes, these were circumstances I had never expected, but I was living a life I had never planned. So with trust in God and acceptance of my current situation, I could move forward.
The plumber kept looking around and shaking his head. Unable to contain his thoughts, he blurted out, “Wow, this is BAD, REALLY BAD.” Trying a bit of humor, he asked, “I hope you were ready for a kitchen redo?”
I remember the plumber looking at me and saying, “Wow, Mrs. Dee you are super calm and handling this so well.” “I have never seen a house flooded and a person so composed.” I thought to myself, little did he know this was nothing in the big scheme of things. After all, I had God and what is a lot of water compared to a child fighting for her life? At that moment, I could have cared less if my whole house was ruined. I just wanted my child to be okay. With trust in God and acceptance of my situation, one more important choice was needed to prevent my unraveling.
Chose To Stay In The Present Moment
You see if I had allowed myself to leave the present moment; I can guarantee this momma would have collapsed from the weight of it all. The past, future and present moments would have been too much all at once.
My mind would have raced to the child sitting all alone in a Psychiatric Hospital and to the pondering of how I had failed her in her greatest time of need. Next, I would have moved forward to the stress of how on earth I was going to pull off a Graduation Party at my home the following week for a child that also needed to be recognized, honored and loved.
Little did I know that this was the beginning of learning the skills that would carry me forward into being the parent and wife my family would need. Of course, I will never perfect these skills, and I will always be a work in progress. However, when those unexpected circumstances visit because they undeniably will ……
Go Back To
Trusting God in the mess
Accepting my situation
Staying in the present moment
Then I will thank God for that peace that fills my soul, a peace that makes no human sense.
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Embracing the Unexpected | Maree Dee
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Hi Maree, I’m new to your blog and I really enjoyed this post I have been there more times than I can count and I am learning every single day to do exactly what you did.
Thank you for stopping by. Isn’t it amazing when we do find that peace.
Amen sista, thanks for the reminder. Blessings!
I love all of your reminders too.
Thanks, Maree for sharing your reflections in a very unpleasant situation! When unexpected circumstances invade my space, I do the only thing I know to do: turn to Jesus strength, stability and sanity! He is always faithful.
I am with you! He is always faithful. I just wish sometimes he worked a little faster. Of course, I know his timing is always best.
I must remind myself in these situations to look to GOD, rather than the people involved, to change, fix or even admit their mistakes. He’s the ONE who is all powerful to change it…nobody else…and nothing else!
So simple and yet so hard sometimes. It is so nice when we can remind each other. I have a friend that will always ask, “have you talked to God yet?”
I agree and this is one of the hardest ways for me to cope. I know it’s what I need to do, but frequently my wants get in the way of what God needs for them.
Carmen, I am with you, sometimes I just get in the way. I jump in to fix things and look back to see if God is with me. I know I need to flip it around. When I do, things go the way they are meant to go.
What a powerful story and reminder. I think it’s pretty cool how God puts us in situations or circumstances that in the moment we ask him, “why” or plead with him that “this is too much” I also have a bit of a sense of humor at times and I know I’ve personally had deep conversations with God and just laugh because He’s got to be making a mistake maybe just once He’s got to slip up at least once in awhile….. until something comes along later in life and I’m quickly reminded, ” hey God DID know what he was doing and he was preparing me for this…. for me God has put me in many trying times when I’ve asked him. One things, but it wasn’t until this past month I realized God was preparing me 4 years ago for something I am facing NOW in my life!! He knows the plans for our lives and gives us just what we need to prepare us for situations in our future.
Yes, humor is fantastic. I think God has a sense of humor, don’t you? Sometimes I pray for just that. Lord, please help me laugh today or find something to be silly about. I could use more laughter.
That is fantastic that you can look back and see what you went through was preparing you for today. I would say four years is not too bad. I feel like sometimes I don’t see the reason for a very very long time.