Trusting God in Life’s Unexpected Challenges

Sometimes faith looks like trusting God through one thing after another.

I’ve had a rough week over the past 24 hours.

Last night, I was watching TV, relaxing after a busy day, when my sweet Aragorn approached me, drooling copiously. I wasn’t eating, which is usually the only time he drools, lying on the floor politely but unable to control the thin thread of desire as he watches. This was a huge, slimy rope hanging from his jowls.  Examining him, I realized his lip was thick and swollen, and he was panting as if he’d just completed a marathon.  Clearly, something had bitten him, and the venom of whatever was making him VERY ill.

Aragorn seeking comfort from his mama.
He doesn’t understand what’s happening to him.

I’m usually careful not to take advantage of my friends, but this was my Gornie. I called a vet friend (who is married to a vet!) and told them what I was seeing. With their guidance, I stayed home and monitored him—checking his temperature and watching for other symptoms.

By 2 AM, the panting had stopped, the drool was under control, and his temperature was normal. The swelling was still there, but he was stable. I went to bed but set an alarm every hour through the night to check on him.

Troubles in the Barn

I was exhausted this morning and slept in a bit—which did not sit well with my goats.

A couple of weeks ago, we lost one of our babies, likely to one of the Great Horned Owls in our woods. Since we have too many goats to stall, I cobbled together a solution using wire panels, fence staples, and bungee cords, so they can stay safely under the barn roof at night.
Usually I’m out fairly early to release them, but this morning I was soooooo tired. I slept in a little once I knew Aragorn was safe.

Jethro, my buck, was not pleased.

Jethro

He was NOT happy with me.

To show his displeasure, as I started unhooking the wire gate, he began butting it—and before I could stop him, he hit it so hard that the board the gate was attached to ripped right off the barn. That’s just —wonderful.

My husband is out of town. The nails are sticking out of the board, so it clearly needs to be screwed in instead of hammered—which means finding the drill, buying long screws, and somehow holding the long board with a wire gate attached to it in place while I fix it… alone.

A Roadside Setback

A couple of hours later, I headed out for a quick errand.

As I drove down our driveway, a lost motorist pulled in. I eased off to the side so we could talk—and hit something hidden in the grass (later discovered to be a stump).

After I redirected him and continued on, my truck started to shimmy.

That stump destroyed my tire.

Why is this happening to me?

There I was, pulled over on the side of the road, with a truck that wasn’t going anywhere… and I just felt defeated.

As I stood there staring at my tire, I could hear Shane & Shane singing in my mind:

“Though You slay me, Yet I will praise You.
Though You take from me, I will bless Your name.
Though You ruin me, Still I will worship
Sing a song to the one who's all I need.”  

As my soul settled into those words, the Lord reminded me—He is my all. No matter my circumstances, He is enough.

I began to sing the words, and thank Him for being Jehovah-Jireh, “The Lord Will Provide.”  I began thinking of scriptures and personalizing them.

“And my God will meet all my needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19

“God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…The Lord Almighty is with me; the God of Jacob is my fortress.” —Psalm 46:1-3, 7

There is something powerful about taking Scripture and making it personal—claiming it as truth for your own life.

Reflections on God’s Provision

Now, sitting at my computer, I can see all the ways God showed up for me in just these past hours.

When I was worried about my dog, friends were praying—and others were available by phone when I needed help. I didn’t spend panicked hours in an emergency clinic or sit alone in a house worrying after I had to leave him there; I was able to care for Aragorn at home and watch him improve.

My adult son gave up part of his day to come over with the tools needed to reaffix the gate to the barn, so my goats will be safe tonight, and I didn’t have to struggle on my own.

My spare tire was in good condition. Roadside assistance came quickly. I was close to home, on a quiet road—and the tire went flat instead of blowing out on the interstate.

Would I have placed,
“Dog bitten by something dangerous”
“Goat damaging barn” or
“Flat tire”
on my Bingo card had I been choosing?

Not a chance.

But God was present in every single moment.

And so I will remember, and

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

Thank you, Lord, for Your constant presence—no matter my circumstances.
You are good, all the time.