Last week in our Caregiver Support meeting, I recalled a difficult time for our family when we were living in the throes of chaos and crisis. Due to my husband’s job loss in 2008, we had to let our dream home go to foreclosure. The following is from a blog-journal I kept during those days. I trust you find it encouraging, no matter what you are facing today.

4340, IT’S ABOUT WHAT HE HAS NOT DONE.

It has been almost two years since our household income began to decline and my husband and I became painfully aware that we would not be able to honor the mortgage contract on our new home. Those two years of the unknown in regard to the conclusion of the matter have now ended. Fannie Mae purchased our home and we will be moving into a rental home soon. Our God has been so very good to us and strange as it may seem, I want to honor Him because of what He has not done.

*He has not witheld the truth from us ~ “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

*He has not given me what my sinful heart craves from this world, security, comfort, prestige, material wealth, reputation, and ease ~ “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of the my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26

*He has not abandoned us ~ “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

*He has not witheld His love for us ~ “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

*He has not witheld His discipline from us ~ “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” Hebrews 12:7-8

*He has not allowed us to go hungry ~ “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken of his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25

And most importantly,

*He (Christ) did not give in to the temptation to sin His entire life on earth. Especially in the garden of Gethsemane ~ “And going a little further he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

*He did not refuse to take upon Himself the wrath of God, that I deserve, by dying on the cross ~ “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

*He did not stay dead, but conquered it ~ “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6

*He did not stay on earth, but ascended into heaven where He is praying and waiting for us, for those who believe… ~ “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:28

Thank you God, for what you have not done.

*the following song was particularly meaningful to me during that time but I’ll never get tired of this…