I have been mining some more and still am not rich, but am
having fun and finding “a little bit of color” here and there. Sometimes though
I may work for days running my highbanker (a sluice box that is fed by a pump
and a dredge or shovel), you toil and work for hours before the “clean out”
when you finally get to see what you found. Often you break thinks down and
clean up your mats and pan the “concentrates” or what’s left in the box out and
nothing shows up.
What a bummer to work so hard to find nothing. Has that ever
happened to you during life’s experiences? Boy I could go through a bunch of
them and with hindsight I know that God has been in control the whole time.
Matthew 7:24 – 27 should give us the “foundation” to trust God:
24 Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto
a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And
every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be
likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
If we have a foundation in God and his word we would know
our life is in God’s hands. Sure life may throw us some curves, but often the
end up in a better place. I think of 2007 when we had a huge debt, a struggling
business and looking at bankruptcy. Along came a developer who wanted our land
and the deal would give us enough to clear the debt, prop up the business and
give us a down-payment for the building we were in. As saw God working we were
excited. Then the planning meeting and it all unraveled, we were back in the
hole. How could God have done this to us?
Hindsight being 20/20 we now know some 8 years later. It
taught us to control debt and pay what we had down. It made us realize our
assets were enough to keep us out of taking the easy way out through bankruptcy.
It had us dissolve the business and thankful we do not own 123 W. Main (our
business home). After 8 years we are debt free, in a beautiful home and
enjoying life. Sure life is not rosy, we have our daily headaches. We have to
work hard to keep the home as expected, since it has some major issues. But no
longer are we panicked, but faithfully going with the flow.
So while your clean-out may not pan out as desired, often
time that is teaching you something that will benefit you in the long run!!