My Chris and I love to watch The King and I with Yul Brenner. Our very favorite part is where the King tells Anna that no one shall be higher in stance than the King. She must go lower and lower, until her head is completely lowered to the floor.
He plays the game with her, and this strong-willed Anna complies. Why? Because she has gained respect, even love, for this king.
And so, we go lower and lower in respect for our King Jesus.
You may have walked out our job-less journey with us a three years ago. It was hard. It was tire-some. Yet, in our low time, we came to know and love our King Jesus even more.
Unlike the king of Siam, our King is not on a power play. Jesus IS the King. And He deserves our respect. He is WORTHY of it.
Like Anna, my Chris and I are strong-willed people, and we are complying with what our King requires. We will go lower and lower. But the BEST part is that there is no depth that our Christ does not come along with us–beside us.
Over a year and a half ago, we began another difficult journey. We both have jobs, wonderful jobs. We have health insurance and good health. We have a happy family. We are in need of nothing really. But due to so many circumstances, our financial state was dire.
We met with a fellow church friend, who is a financial advisor. After trying every avenue and under his direction, we filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy. We stood before a judge. My friends? It was hard. It felt humiliating. And yet, Jesus was and is the lifter of our heads–though He wants us to choose humility–humiliation is not His will for any of us. As our financial friend told us, we have not been not walking this journey alone.
Why do I share this with you here in the CLOSET? So that you may know that in your dire circumstances, You WILL see God’s glory and His wonders! You just WILL. You may be able to identify with this hard journey. Or perhaps, you need encouragement to know you are not alone in it. That is one thing I needed to know just these past few years. We have not been and are not alone.
Over the next months, I will share more of our bankruptcy journey with you. We have a year and a half to go. Then, we plan on saving and repaying each lender, because we believe it is the right thing to do. There are some down-sizing goals in the works, which God is leading us to do, so that we may be free financially and have a right perspective. There is much to be said in the financial area of our lives–and friends, we need to shed light on this difficult subject, so that we may live and walk and be free.
One thing you may pray for us is that no matter what, The Presence of the LORD will be with us. He is all we need. We shall also pray the same for you.
With our heads completely lowered to the floor, I say with respect and love for our King Jesus, “You are enough. I have done what You have asked of me, because I love You that much.”
About Holly
Holly, thank you for “coming out of the closet” to share your financial experience. I know exactly how hard that was for you. Our family has been down the road of near foreclosure and it’s hard to admit to family and friends that you are in a hard way. They want to know how you got there, and honestly…you get to the point where you just don’t know.
Don’t forget that Anna and the king danced! So….dance!
Holly, I’ve mentioned starting a Bible study recently. We took up prayer requests and my heart was so tendered by how many are going through financial struggles right now. 2 Cor. 1:4 comes to mind. You have been comforted in this by the One who will now use you to comfort others. You’ve done it beautifully.