{trusting}

i know this is quite different from my typical posts, 
but when i  started this blog, i intended for it to be an honest and real space where i could not only share snippets of my life and provide inspiration (and whatever else it is i do on here), but also a space where i could share my struggles and bring glory to God.
and well, right now i feel like doing just those things.
so deal with it ;)

{photo credit}

over these first two years of our marriage, 

joel and i have had our share of financial struggles,

between me losing my job, twice, & struggling to find work, and Joel going to school full-time.

last summer we even had to move in with my parents 
because we simply couldn't afford to pay rent 

(you don't know how much i appreciate having our own space now)!

during all of these struggles, i always found it difficult to fully trust that God would take care of us, that he would provide in one way or another. instead, i would let worry plague me.

most recently, i have been worrying about what we are going to do less than a month from now, when Joel's full-time job turns into a part-time job (with lower pay).
joel has been amazing about trusting that God will work it out
because he always does, but me, well i've been feeling scared and doubtful.

this past weekend, a defining moment transpired, where God asked me to take a significant step of faith and finally trust our finances to him. i felt his reassurance that he would indeed provide and i finally let go of what i had considered up to that point to be "my" money,
and i trusted him with it.

i'm not going to lie - it was really scary. 
but it was so freeing at the same time.

{photo credit}
and it is simply amazing the blessings he's been pouring on us since then.
i truly feel his faithfulness.

in just these past few days, we have been given several free meals,

my Etsy sales have been on a serious upsurge, and i even won a gift certificate to a vintage shop on Etsy (this was very exciting to me as i have not been able to spend any money on fun things because of our tight budget. as a girl who loves to shop, it has not been easy in the slightest).


of all the blessings we've been experiencing, the most praise-worthy is what transpired today.
joel landed a job at the university that literally begins the week after his current one turns part time.

no joke. 

it came out of nowhere.
he was actually personally contacted about the job yesterday.
they interviewed him today and offered him the job on the spot.
apparently he was hand-picked for the position, and he is still baffled at why/how.
(although i am not.. i think he is more widely known/respected across campus than he thinks).

{photo credit}
anyway, it is clear that God was at work here.
this is truly a testimony that when you trust,
God is indeed faithful.
he may not work according to our own timing,
but i am slowly learning that 

his timing is best.

help me to trust you with not only my finances, but with all areas of my life, Lord.