Broken Doors

“I’m tired of our latch-dysfunction,” I told my husband.

Our van’s power doors took an early retirement, so we need to manually wrestle them open and closed.  “It’s good for your muscles,” we tell the boys.  But during Minnesota winters, the doors take turns freezing shut.  Until we’re driving; that’s when they fly open!

Thus, our “discussion.”  Can we afford it?  No.  Can I afford the anxiety of these surprise door openings?  No.

In the middle of getting nowhere, I pled my case to God.

“I feel helpless, but God’s going to make a way,” I told Dwight.  “I’ve been prayer journaling about this, and we know God could pull the money out of nowhere if He wanted.  He’ll make a way in the desert!”

I couldn’t imagine another season with freeze-flying doors, so I had to put my trust in the only solution.

[box] I look up to the mountains–does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! Psalm 121:1,2 [/box]

I confess: Trusting God doesn’t come naturally to me.  It’s like exercise.  I don’t naturally spring out of bed in the morning doing jumping jacks.

I trust God because I want to please Him.  (And I don’t want ulcers.)

[box] You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 [/box]

When brokenness abounds, there’s only one sure fix, and that is to “fix” our minds on the fix-it Man.

So I gave God my broken doors, and all the dangers they posed.  It didn’t shock Him, surprise Him, or even rattle Him, but He wanted to hear from me.  I’m His child.  He wants to handle my tears, frustrations, confusions, and fears.  He wants all of me.

After pressing into Abba God, I relaxed a little.  I even almost forgot about Dwight’s and my “discussion.”  Until a couple weeks ago when he called me into the room.

“Guess what?”  I could tell by his tone it would be good.

I eyed the letter in his hand. “What?”

He leaned back.  “Toyota sent this to everybody with our van’s make, model, and year.  Apparently, a lot of these vans have problems with the doors and latches, so they’re replacing the door motors and components for free.”

I squealed, happy danced, and looked like a fool, until my kids ran in and asked, “what’s up?”

“Don’t get too excited,” my husband cautioned.  “The form says Toyota has to first examine our car to see if we qualify.”

“Of course we’ll qualify,” I said.

But guess what?  We didn’t.  The recall was for 2004 vans, but ours was purchased and driven by the previous owner in 2003!

That’s where the story gets better because… the greater the impossibility, the greater the possibility for a miracle.

When Dwight later called from work, I caught fresh confidence in his voice.

“The Toyota service guy felt sorry for us.  He contacted corporate headquarters, and told them, ‘We’ve got to do something for these people.’  Headquarters agreed to pay seventy-five percent of the twenty-five hundred dollar repair, but no, that wasn’t good enough for our service guy.  He took the problem to his local Toyota manager, and convinced him to pay the remaining twenty-five per cent!   They’re covering the whole repair!”

God had us covered!  Time for part two of my happy dance.  We didn’t deserve it, but God answered according to His riches in glory!  Our van doors now have new inward parts.  They open and close with a simple push of a button!

Toyota might have taken it to headquarters, but we all know who the real Headquarters is!

What the enemy intended for evil, God intended for good.

THANK YOU Father God, for loving all your children, for being in control 24/7!  King of Life, King of the Ages, You hear our fervent prayers and meet all our needs because you love us more than finite minds can grasp!  Thank you that we have zero reason to fear.  We drive to a different tune, and we tune in to a different station!  Thank you that you open doors that no man can close and close doors that no man can open!   Until eternity, may we always and forever turn to You first in times of need. With joy, perseverance, and thanksgiving, may we place complete dependence on You and Your Great Sovereignty!  In Jesus’ name.

[box] But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19[/box]

Thankful to God for something, Friend?  Please join me in giving Him praise…