The loud, grating noise outside drew my focus from the task at hand. Someone was trimming the trees behind the brick wall at the edge of our property. The job took only a few minutes, and then all was quiet again.
But things were not the same. I stared in shock and disappointment at the empty space. Gone were the shade and beautiful view that the treetops once provided. In a way, I felt exposed. I wanted the trees back.
Living in a changing world
The change in our backyard occurred on March 6, 2020, when the world was also changing in visible ways. The coronavirus outbreak became a pandemic only days later. The U.S. and other nations issued stay home, stay safe orders in the weeks that followed.
The way we lived quickly changed. Gatherings and travel stopped. Employees transitioned to working from home or lost their jobs altogether. Lines formed outside grocery stores as people anxiously waited to buy food and other essential items.
What many people used to look to for security was also removed almost instantly: sources of income, financial reserves, and a steady stream of supplies. Even common comforts disappeared as face masks covered smiles and social distancing put handshakes and hugs out of reach.
Seeing clearly
I usually buy toiletries in bulk at the beginning of the month, so our supply lasted through March, and with some stretching, into early April. Something stood out to me when my paper supply dwindled. In the empty space where a box of facial tissue usually stood, I could see in full what the box had partly covered: a wooden sign that spells “trust.”
Immediately, I recalled past seasons of change: job transitions, layoffs, moves, and the start of my ministry. In these lean times, I had learned to trust God for the little everyday things as well as the big things.
Too often, abundance and success push trust to the background. But in times like what we are facing, trust can be restored to its rightful place. That place is in God at the front and center of our lives.
Next to my empty tissue holder stood two bottles of lotion. I remember buying the extra bottle of lotion for extremely dry hands at almost half price. With all the added handwashing these days, I need the lotion more than ever.
Memories flooded my mind of all the things I had felt led to buy in recent months: extra bath soap, dish soap that was on sale, and Easter gifts in advance. I followed the Lord’s promptings, even though I did not know the reason behind them. As a result, I experienced His provision.
Trusting God in emptiness
The sign reminded me that I need to trust God in the empty places. So, I put my faith in Him for protection from exposure to the virus as well as the little things like facial tissue, toilet paper (yes, I ran out for a time), food, and water. I also let God into the empty places in my soul: the hurts buried in the busyness of life, the back-to-back losses, and the disappointment of dreams placed on hold.
I pondered the emptiness as I sat on the porch overlooking our backyard—the only place outside our home where we still go every day. One evening, I looked up and saw what the treetops above the brick wall had always blocked. An outdoor sanctuary filled with a boundless sky and many types of trees surrounded our home. God knows this means a lot to a girl who was raised on a farm and cannot take her monthly drives to the country.
When life as we know it changes, we have a secure fortress in our God (Psalm 46). He is our comfort, our provider, our refuge, our security, and our true peace. God is faithful and always worthy of our trust.
Where are the empty places in your life? Are you trusting God in those places?
Dear Michelle,
So nice to hear from you – indirectly through this article. Thank you for providing hope and inspiration and for reminding us to trust in God, our all in all.
I am so blessed to know you and see what you are doing these days. Keep it up my friend!