Just Enough at Just the Right Time

COVID has caused many financial hardships.  Businesses have been lost, homes have been foreclosed on, and life as many knew it forever changed.  My husband’s business is not any different.  We researched and looked to attorneys to learn about the various options available for survival or to plan a business closing.  I have done the bookkeeping and overseen the operations since November 2018.  During this struggle, I trusted my Lord and Savior to not only guide my steps and decisions about the business but also to manage my fear and anxiety.  I spent time in prayer and reading His word daily seeking guidance and wisdom. 

Despite my genuine trust in God and His provisions, I still found myself paralyzed with anxiety and fear.  I struggled with my inability to control it and constantly felt as if I was letting God down.  Daily I asked for forgiveness and asked Him to strengthen me. 

Prior to beginning my spiritual journey to mature my relationship with God, many of my beliefs were very wrong.  I used to believe that God equipped us with everything we needed…a brain and common sense.   However, I learned from Charles Stanley that while that is true, it wasn’t the complete truth.  Charles Stanley teaches that many times we get in God’s way, making it nearly impossible for God to work in our lives.  One way we do this is by continually manipulating our current circumstances.  He says that we are to completely relinquish control of our circumstances and hand them over to God in faith because God’s word says he will work all things for our good.  So I prayerfully let the the business go and continually prayed for help with my fear and anxiety.  When I made that decision and made a purposeful decision each day not to touch it, I began to see His blessings, one after another.

The businesses did not have a debt problem, they had a revenue problem.  The business was current on all financial obligations.  But once the money ran out from the government funding received and the small savings the funding afforded us to accumulate, I began to get extremely nervous.  I applied for an EIDL loan for the business, it was approved, but weeks and months went by, and nothing.  It was in a pile of others waiting for processing; there was nothing I could do about it except relinquish control and do my best to rest in God.  I didn’t have the "rest" part under control, but I was able to prevent myself from taking any action to try to facilitate the loan processing.  What began to happen and continued to occur each, and every week was no doubt blessings from God.  I continued to struggle with paralyzing anxiety and fear, but each week when I processed payroll, the revenue received was always just enough at just the right time.  The business was hanging on by nothing except the wonderful, beautiful Glory of God. 

Once the business was approved for the loan, I asked the bank to bear with us.  The business was able to meet all its financial obligations except for the banknote; the monthly note was too steep, and the bank was not willing to work with us.  Once the payment was three months behind, we received a letter demanding payment in 10 days.  At this point, I was unsure of God’s plan and questioned whether I was misunderstanding what I needed to do.  I asked God to please make His plan clear to me; I needed to know if His plan was for the business to close or remain open.  I needed to know so it would be handled properly, and employees were not left without receiving their weekly wages they so deserved.  On the 7^th day after receiving the letter, the 2^nd partner called to inform me he was going to try to get access to the funds needed to bring the banknote current.  On the 10^th day, a deposit was made, and the business continued to earn just enough revenue at just the right time.  But, the revenue was not enough to cover the banknote and it went into default once again. 

Holidays have always been especially hard on the business due to being closed.  Every day a business is closed is a day that it is not receiving revenue, but the monthly obligations remains the same.  When I processed payroll the week after Thanksgiving, the account was more than $2,000 short and we are facing 2 more upcoming holidays in a row.  I threw my hands up, I told my husband that he and his partner needed to call the attorneys to find out what the options were since the approved SBA loan was pending processing.   On Thursday morning as my husband was leaving to meet with his partner, I happened to look down at my phone and noticed a missed call and a message from the SBA.  I returned the call and learned that our loan was in processing, and because the agent read all the case notes and understood the urgency, our case was made a priority.  I worked with the agent on Dec. 1st and Dec. 2nd, 2021.  The morning of December 3rd, I received an email with instructions.  I completed the necessary request and sent an email to the agent to find out what to expect moving forward.  She explained that we should receive the contracts to sign within 2 to 3 days and funding would be deposited within 2 to 3 days following receipt of all the signatures.  What are the odds of that happening without the help of God?  Once again, we seem to be receiving just enough at just the right time.  

Today is Dec. 4^th, I have not yet received the contracts for signature, but I am at peace in my soul.  What a wonderful father we have.  He doesn't require any more than an earthly farther, only that we listen, trust, and obey.  Aren't those the qualities most of us try to teach our children?  I have realized what a poor example I have been to my daughter.  How can I expect her to trust, listen, and obey what I say if I do not practice what I am teaching her?  Today, I am trying to working hard to change so I can be a better example to her and anyone who may look up to me or be watching.