As told by Amanda V.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:19
Amanda made the move from city life in Brooklyn, New York, to country living in Livingston, New York. However, Amanda continued to commute to Brooklyn for work. She would take the train on Sunday evenings and spend the week in Brooklyn. Then, on Friday afternoons, Amanda would take the train to her beautiful, quaint, picturesque home in Livingston, where she would spend a weekend of God-filled Scripture reading, worship music, and meditating on the beauty and greatness of God. Life was good. Then, the pandemic happened, and everything changed.
The government was strongly pushing the vaccine, but Amanda knew she did not want to violate her conscience to take something she didn't feel was studied thoroughly. She soon lost her job for not abiding by the new rules. However, she was not discouraged nor distressed. She lived by faith in God’s promises and remembered that God said in Matthew 6:31-32, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
Amanda has always been big on living a healthy lifestyle. Losing her job was a catalyst into using this passion. She decided to turn her basement into a sanitarium where people could visit the countryside for a lovely retreat. She started to advertise via friends, family, and social media. Soon, people were coming for seven days, ten days, or an entire month.
They loved the routine Amanda provided. They would worship early in the morning and then eat a wholesome breakfast with freshly squeezed juice. Afterward, the visitors would take a nice digestive walk, breathing in the cool, fresh air. Later, they would have a massage or detox with a clean, wholesome, nutritious lunch, more worship, and an early bedtime.
Some people came and did not wish to return to life as usual in the hustling and bustling of city life. One couple actually moved close by to continue the country life experience.
Amanda soon became a masseuse. She found a job close to home with a more stable income. But she still gives classes to schools and hosts a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner for neighbors annually.
Although Amanda wasn't happy when she lost her job, she knew that her Father was Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. Amanda followed God's instructions as found in Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” She was able to make enough money to meet all of her needs, minister to others near and far, and provide healthful information regarding lifestyles to the schools and churches around Livingston. Life became better for her as well, by not having to commute so far from home. For all this, she is grateful.
Call to Action
How many times do we fret and forget about God and His promises when life begins to turn upside down? We could learn to trust God more and more with our lives like Amanda did. Also, trust that He has something better in store for our lives. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB©).
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture taken from the King James Version.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman \ Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
