This is true, I did get a Ford Expedition for ONE DOLLAR.
What this article should be called, though, is How to Accept God's Provision with Open Arms. And, please, do not misunderstand me here. This is in no way a prosperity teaching of Jesus, it is about truly embracing what comes after leaning into His grace and provision for His children.
And, although I say this, I have been more stressed out during this time than I have ever been before. I have felt nauseated and not wanting to eat because the stress was so overwhelming. I wish it wasn't true and I wish I could tell you that I haven't been struggling with letting go and laying my burdens and worries at His feet.
But alas, let's talk about how I got the car in the first place.
My mother is friends with a woman who is in the process of selling her home in Colorado. I had never met this woman, so all I heard was second hand from my mother who said that this woman was offering her 2002 Ford Expedition to me....for free. The old car needed a bit of love but she would be good to run in Alaska. At first, I said no. What I actually said, regretfully, was "I think it's not a good idea to take a rust bucket to the freezing cold of Alaska".....
After one month and some encouragement, I agreed. I mean, what was my other option, buy a truck equal to this one? heck no. Without ever seeing even a picture of the thing, I agreed to pack up my life in the family van, drive it out to Colorado, pack up the truck and then send it on its way with a trucker and then a shipper to meet it once again in a port in Anchorage, Alaska.
But before all of this happened I had to go get the keys from this woman. So, the day before we started our road trip, I drove out to meet the owner of the car, Susie. We chatted a bit, she gave me the keys and I thanked her incessantly for giving me her car for this adventure. She said, "You know, I love that car. It's been true to our family, we've driven it everywhere and it never gave us trouble", I thought, well that is good to hear. Then she said, "I didn't want to give it up, but then your mother told me your story and I felt the Lord urging me to give the car to you."
The next day, Susie sent me the bill of sale. It said - 'Sold to Emma Spector for $1'.
The unfathomably perfect plan unraveled before my eyes. I didn't see it before, but I do now. My life is now intertwined with someone I don't know because she also is doing her best to listen, obey, and walk in faith. I would have never met this woman otherwise and odds are I won't ever see her again.
In a matter of 10 minutes, she had handed me the keys to a vessel, my way to go.
This, my friends, is provision.
But here is where this all comes into beautiful play - the Truck Driver
Hold on...but I just packed my whole life into a truck I've owned for 72 hours and I'm supposed to trust that you're not going to steal anything, that someone won't break in, or something in it won't break mid-route...? well, I did.
I finally met the man.
He looked about late twenties, (I found out later that he is Turkish), he spoke plainly and had a gentle demeanor. He had a thick accent but I understood him and he understood me. I was told his name was Mike, but really that was a shortened version of a very very long Turk name. On the day of pick up, I pulled up in the truck and I said, "Are you Mike?" he said, "yeah, hi, just pull the truck around".
I do so, and step out of the car. He says, "My boss wants you to pay me in full right now." Because I was warned that this might happen, I cracked a little smile and said, "Buddy, you know I can't pay you in full right now. I am willing to pay you half right now, though, and half when it gets to the port in Washington." He loosened his stance and said, "Well, you understand that people lie to me about this all the time." I stepped toward him, I put my hand on his arm and I said, "I will pay you what I owe, I promise you".
After we both laughed about the craziness of moving to Alaska in January, he put the car on the trucker. The air was frigid and the wind was ripping by us that day, we nearly had to yell to each other when we went to say our goodbyes. I said, "That's my life in that car, Mike, I'm choosing to trust you!!"
He turned around with a big goofy smile on his face and said, "I'll get your car where it needs to be, don't worry!"
3 days go by.
I get a text from Mike saying that he needs the rest of the money or he won't drop the car off. I miss this initial text because I was eating dinner with my family. I see the text 20 minutes later and I panic. I text him back and say that I'll pay him. He responds and says that he will go back to the port and drop off the car. I call him right after and say "Hey Mike, is there any confirmation you could give me when you drop the car off, maybe like the name of the person accepting the car?" He gives me a name, I say thanks, we hang up. I pay him what I owed.
Immediately after the money went through, I get a call back from him. I say hello, he chuckles a little and says, "Emma, I can't explain it, but I knew I could trust you. I actually dropped the car off an hour ago!"
I couldn't believe it. He continues, "I don't know how to explain it because I don't know you but I knew I could trust you."
I told him how much I appreciated him and wished him a happy holidays.
The Lord will provide your adventure, the shelter, a vessel for travel, a friend - all open doors in my experience. When looking back, I see now how these were open doors for me even though I was definitely not cognizant of that fact in the moment.
The Lord opens different doors for all kinds of different people. Don't miss them, don't dismiss them, don't miss the blessings the Lord has in store for you. He has gone before you and knows the way. Trust in Him.
Comments