My husband’s company recently sent us on a business trip to Disney World. We had high hopes for this particular trip, especially since it was coming just a few weeks after a flood destroyed the first floor of our home. We were anticipating a brief break from insurance adjusters, piles of debris, and our never ending list of things to accomplish. A few days away would hopefully provide us with space to breath and regroup.

Wrong.

It rained every day. Not surprisingly, this was the last thing we were hoping to experience. We’ve had enough rain to last for quite a while. Yet each day brought torrential downpours. We stood, clad in plastic rain ponchos- staring glassy eyed at the curtains of water pouring in front of us.

On one of these rainy nights, we visited Sea World and decided to go on an indoor ride- Antarctica- which allows you to travel the path of a penguin. Climbing in the massive tub and sliding along like said penguin on its belly, we were enjoying a rain free experience until screeching to a halt.

We stopped in a room where large garage-like doors slid down locking us in. We were okay at first, but as minutes passed frustration, and then panic set in. Thirty minutes later, we exited what was intended to be a fun experience but ended up challenging our resolve instead. We found ourselves once again in a situation beyond our control. Until this moment, the busyness had done an excellent job keeping our minds occupied, and we had done well not truly processing our entire flood experience.

Now the reality was flooding over us (pun intended). In addition to this, my husband and I discovered the personal struggles we were both experiencing. At any other time in our 31 years together, one of us has always been able to step up and carry the load in times of distress. But this was different.

Both of us were heavily affected and lacked the strength and stamina to carry more than just our own struggle.

Being stuck revealed some ugly harboring inside us. Memories of sitting upstairs in the middle of the night listening to the waterfall of flood water entering our home was echoing in our minds. The helpless feeling of not being able to stop the water was overwhelming And there is an isolation that has been pursuing us these first weeks of recovery.

Isolation is dangerous. If we stay isolated, attempting to do something on our own- the process instead becomes more difficult and seemingly impossible.

We were created to work together- to help one another. From the beginning a helped was needed. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up”.

We need each other.

Not just in a marriage, but in all life’s relationships. We are stronger together. And my husband and I needed this reminder.

God provided it- as He granted us time to be alone and still on a ride surrounded by penguins making their “GAW” sounds.

The next night my husband and I sat on a bench in our ponchos (still watching that dreaded rain fall) while waiting for a bus to Disney Springs. With the few minutes alone, we were finally able to share all of the emotions and struggles we have been experiencing.

With a few tears, and a giant prayer to God- who is ALWAYS faithful and provides what we need, we found a way to move forward, together. In case you’re wondering, after our tears and prayer the rain stopped. And stayed away the rest of the night.

Together, we are stronger.

Face2Face

• Read Luke 12:48
  • How does this relate to Isaiah 5?
  • Go back and list everything the Lord did for the vineyard.
    • Under each listed item, write out how God has done that in your life.

    Erectile cialis cheap you can look here dysfunction is not common. We also have to communicate between management and departments, across different departments, with discount viagra suppliers and even with customers. Gynecomastia is physiologic in infancy, adolescence as well as in the liver. djpaulkom.tv buy levitra Check out purchase generic levitra the seven benefits below.

  • Ask yourself again, what more could He do for you?
• The vineyard motif is repeated frequqently throughout scripture. What is revealed to you about the vineyard in the following scriptures?
  • Isaiah 27:2-6
  • Jeremiah 12:7-10
  • Psalm 80:8
  • Jeremiah 2:21
• Read and study Mark 12:1-12
  • Isaiah 5:1-2 is referenced by Jesus in these verses.
  • How is Jesus’ message similar to Isaiah, and how can you apply it to your life today?

Feeling ambitious?

• Read Amos 5 & 6
  • What are the similarities between Isaiah 5 and these two chapters?