Last week, my mom and stepdad's meat processing plant caught on fire.  It was a total loss.  There is nothing to be salvaged.  Nine fire departments and around 70 firefighters fought the fire from Thursday evening into the morning on Friday and they just couldn't put it out.  And this is when I asked the question, "Why God?  Why?"

The last few years have been tough on small locker plant owners.  Between new regulations, a bad economy, and fewer small farmers, business hasn't exactly been booming for any plant owner in Indiana.  I knew that things had been tough for mom and my stepdad on this front.  And then this happened.  It seemed incomprehensibly unfair.

My parents are faithful Christian people.  They are very active in our church.  I grew up in a home where prayer was normal and so was reading the Bible.  My mom and my stepdad have taken several people in our correctional facility's work release program under their wing, trying to give them a stable job and get them counseling from our pastor.  They have loaned money to employees to sometimes not be repaid.  They donate to the local 4-H clubs and help out with our local Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program.  They are good people.  Honest people.  Hard-working people.  So why did this happen to them?

Our church service yesterday had several moments that spoke to me in regards to my parents' loss.  And it was during service that I decided to write this post.  I was hesitant about it at first, but after hearing mom talk about her trust in God and peace with what had happened in regards to the fire, I knew that I had to share what God has shown my family during this time of tragedy.

First, God has to shut one door to open another.  Our pastor said this yesterday during his sermon and it just hit me like a ton of bricks.  Of course!  God has to be planning something better for them.  Maybe they will have the opportunity to build a new building.  The building they were renting was old and inefficient.  My stepdad has wanted to sell his summer sausage nationally, and it was going to be hard for them to do in the building they were in.  Maybe he is going to be able to find a place to do this.  And maybe God has something completely different planned for them.  But I truly believe that "...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose," Romans 8:28. I have to believe that this fire will lead to something better for my parents.

The second thing that really hit home yesterday during church service was the use of the verses Proverbs 3:5-6, " Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  We may not always know why God shuts a door or when He will open another, but to have faith is to believe without seeing.  I have had enough experience in my short life to know that these verses are absolutely true.  And I have to have faith that they will continue to be true in this situation.  We spend too much time asking the "Why?" questions when what we really need to do is to serve God the best we can and wait for God's plans to reveal themselves to us.   Joyce Meyer has a great book called Enjoying Where You Are on the Way to Where You Are Going, and John Waller sings a song called While I'm Waiting.  Both are perfect for these "in between situations."  Life is about the journey and the times between major events.

The last thing that spoke to me during service was the singing of the Chris Tomlin song Our God.  I absolutely LOVE this song.  I cry almost every time we sing it.  It doesn't matter what is going on in your life, this song fills you with the strength and faith to deal with it.  I've listened to this song when I didn't get into the first teaching program I applied to.  I've listened to it on days when everyone, including myself, is crying at our house and I just need some extra strength to make it until bedtime.  And now, during this time of uncertainty and confusion, this song once again has brought me comfort.

...out of the ashes we rise...

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?
What could stand against?

If our God is for us and we believe in Him and His never ending love for us, then what can stand in our way?  Certainly not a fire.