Ponders From the Farmhouse Porch Vol. 1

A season of rest.

Deep inside my soul I could feel a yearning for a change of pace, a pause, a much needed break. It wasn’t until I was forced into this pause by the national shutdown of our country that I realized how much my soul was longing just to find a sabbath of rest.

We had just experienced a transition in our family that took a lot of wisdom to know exactly what to do and how to proceed. We ended the year with that decision resolved, which was such a peace taken off our load. Yet, (even though I don’t share all the ups and downs) over the past few years, our family has moved from one situation to the next and one devastation too many.

Especially when our family went through the flooding of a devastating hurricane a few years back. Where we lost most of our life long belongings. But worse, both of our parents' homes were destroyed and had to be built back. It was at the exact time my husband and I were just about finished mainly DIY-ing our farmhouse. We thought we would get a break then, but life turned for another curve. However, we all had each other, the storm did not take that from us, so we felt more than grateful to weather the road ahead. 

The road ahead had us weathering the cancer that was back to attack my mother’s health, which as of last month she is now cancer free! We also faced my injury, that has left me with a chronic pain, etc. So, when I say I have empathy with you and what you face, I truly can.

Though I have a strong faith that does not waver through these circumstances, I knew God was calling me to a different season. I could hear His voice so softly about what was ahead. Even though I didn’t have the understanding for it, yet, my soul was being tugged upon. A tugging that I could not ignore.

You know, the thing about resting, if it’s done right, is that we rest for what’s to come. What does that mean? Well, let me try to explain. See, I believe a day of rest gets us prepared to face the challenges ahead. If rest is ignored, and the challenge comes, we won’t be able to face it at our best. It’s best, even when we are not tired or weary, to learn to rest. Sometimes that rest will turn into a season, like mine did.

I thought my rest wouldn’t be that long but then another curve in the road came. We were a little over a month into the national shutdown when we got news that my husband’s job was facing cut backs. The national company he works for cut back the salaries of all their employees, took away their bonuses and raises for the year. It was a huge disappointment but as the weeks progressed, that disappointment would turn in to the least of our worries.

As much as the news was changing from week to week over this new virus so was my husband’s job. It was so fluid as each new week would come. It ultimately left us in a bigger PAUSE then we could imagine. A curve that we never fully saw coming. The company that my husband, Aaron, has worked over 13 years for, was now cutting the workforce by 40%. They extended all employees a short deadline to apply for a voluntary severance package. So what do we do now with this decision that was placed upon us?

We knew, for us in this situation, that if we jumped on the offer then we would be guided by fear and the unknown, and would be placing it into our hands. On the other hand, if we gave it to God, since He already knows the full path and just waited it out, then we would be putting our trust into the hands of God and letting Him direct the path. That’s what we did. We didn’t act on the deadline and the weeks following felt like we were out at sea, riding the waves. As the news would progress even worse, we just held tight to our anchor.

Our new normal, brought up so many questions, like what next or would his job require us to move in order to stay with his company or a new one. What does the future hold for our family. We don’t have any of those answers at this time. We will though, soon. It has just placed us in a paused moment in time. When you do all you can, you stand. You wait in patience and you wait in peace, even though you feel the waves crashing around you.

In life there are no guarantees but we can stand on the promises of God. Side note, there’s a little over 7,000 promises God makes to man in His word. He can take whatever circumstance we are faced with and make it for good. No matter how bad it looks or how hard it is we can have a hope that says…no matter what happens, no matter if we face a great loss, that God’s outstretched hand of comfort will provide and direct our path. 

I know so many families in our country have and are facing these same battles. WE are truly ALL in this together! Know this, that my tears and my prayers have been shed for you. I am in this with you. If you cling to hope, we will get through this, together. If you would like, comment below and share with me (and others), a promise you stand on when the storms come and when things look so uncertain.

I appreciate your patience and understanding during my absence.  Even though this season was filled with valley lows and such uncertainty, it truly was one of the most enjoyable slow living seasons that was filled with morning mediations on the back porch, tending to the flower gardens, cooking and baking around the clock, chasing beautiful sunsets, catching fireflies and waking up, each day, with expectant joy and unshakable hope to do it all over again.

xx, jamie