Fear of Foreclosure

A few months ago, I saw a scene that was a heartbreaking, painful jolt into the reality of those that have lost their homes because of the dire housing market in Florida. A family of four that included two small children appeared to be living out of their storage facility. They were sitting at a table with the storage door open, eating a meal while their clothes and what seemed to be most of what they owned, were scattered about inside the storage room. It seemed that every time I went to the storage facility, they were there; just sitting together, eating or hanging out listening to music; like they were in their own living room in the comfort of their own home. It’s a scary place to be – to lose your home; to lose your job; to hit rock bottom; to find yourself in a dark pit, struggling to climb out and wondering if you will ever see the light of day. This is the first time in my life that I personally know at least twenty people that are either unemployed, have suffered a reduced income, have filed for bankruptcy, have lost their home or are in the process of foreclosure. When we find ourselves in a situation where the present is gloomy and our future is facing foreclosure, it is easy for fear to creep in and threaten the faith that abides in us. After all, we’re human and having no control over our circumstances or our future can evoke a strong sense of fear.

Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I’ve always been told to “plan my life or end up becoming a part of somebody else’s plan.” While planning is good, we sometimes tend to obsess over the future to the point that it takes away from the present. Most people that I talk to never imagined that they would be in their current predicament and most of them had a plan. As much as we plan, the future still remains uncertain. What is certain and unchanging, however, is that God is all-knowing. All we need to be concerned about is placing our trust in the One that knows; carrying out His plan; doing what we are presently called to do and moving forward under His guidance. I can’t tell you how many times I carved out a path for myself only to be guided in another direction. When I make lofty plans I am sometimes lovingly reminded by my mother that “Man appoints and God disappoints.” God’s intention though is not to hurt or disappoint us, but to steer us in the direction that is best for us because He loves us; because He wants to protect us and because He knows more than we will ever know.

I once read a quotation that says “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” Thank God that what lies within us is His Spirit and we need not fear for He is always watching over us, always guiding us and always planning for our future. All we are called to do is to trust Him and take comfort in the fact that, if we give Him full control, He has promised do take care of all our needs.

Psalm 55:22: Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.