Grand Canyon Sized Dream
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25 ESV
I always stress a job layoff. We have suspected for several months now that it would be coming. Even when you are expecting it, those initial words my husband said to me after his phone call, “they let me go,” felt like someone punched me in the stomach and I forgot all my MMA training to counter it.
Panic was my initial reaction. How will we pay the bills? What about the kids’ activities? What about the mortgage payment, car payment, health care sharing, RV payment and on and on and on? Do you want to know my husband’s initial reaction? Pack your bags, we are loading up the RV and heading to the Grand Canyon.
Seriously, what?!?! We have no job and the Grand Canyon is over 2,000 miles away. Where are we going to get the money for that?
I pouted, prayed and pouted some more but finally trusted my husband’s leadership and agreed to the trip. As we sat in our driveway with 3 kids, two dogs, myself and my husband loaded in our 17 year old Ford truck with our 5th wheel in tow, we prayed before pulling out for the long journey west. We did not ask for financial provision for the trip, instead we prayed for safety, no issues with our truck and no blowing tires. When all was said and done, we had the most amazing vacation.
The Lord provided above and beyond anything we could’ve imagined. Initially, we stayed at my boss’s home in Flagstaff for seven nights. It just so happens he had full hookups for our RV. Not only that; but he and his wife spoiled us. They cooked the most amazing meals for us, waited on us, and provided food for our family. Thanks to the Every Kid in a Park program, we were allowed free entrance into all the national parks and monuments. We were able to secure campground reservations and campgrounds that were booked a year or more in advanced once we left Flagstaff.
We saw some of God’s most gorgeous creations. The Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks just to name a few. Our children were able to watch us as parents walk through a time of trial and trust the Lord in the process. We spent three and a half weeks living in our RV, traveling the country and experiencing new adventures.
My boss allowed me to expense all of our diesel to and from Arizona since we did some work while visiting them. We traveled over 5,000 miles total on a three and a half week vacation for about $600.00 total cost to us.
Psalm 56:3 simply says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” I was afraid of a job layoff. I am still afraid and it is a daily struggle to put my trust in the Lord. He has shown us over and over again we can trust him. He just showed us an amazing time and still I sit here typing that I am struggling with trusting the Lord.
Ultimately, I don’t know where this layoff will lead. Like the words of Mercy Me’s song, Even If, I seek God daily to have the faith to say and believe,
I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone
For me, taking a trip across the country with no job was a huge faith walk. It was a small example to show how the Lord watches over our family and provided something that we desired in what would appear to be the most inopportune time – no job.
I am forever grateful for this time we had. My oldest graduates in less than 2 years from High School and we had prayed and hoped to be able to visit the Grand Canyon before she graduates. The Lord saw it within His plan to give us this desire. If He cares about the little things like a want to visit the west, He surely can handle the bigger picture of a job layoff. Today, I am putting my trust back in the Lord.
What a reminder of how God provides for the desires of our hearts! Nothing can buy back family time in years to come. I will be praying for God to direct you again as he has in this summer trip.
I am so glad that you were able to take this amazing trip.
You are right; we often forget that we can trust our Lord with all the small details in life. I know we can trust Him, however the heart is faster than the head.