It’s been a very difficult couple of days for me and my husband, with thieves determinedly targeting our bank account through a lengthy, elaborate scam. Thankfully, we are being helped by our bank and our wonderful Isle of Man police. Many thanks to you, officers S. and A. You made a huge and decisive difference, and we will never forget you.
Although our account is now completely frozen, we hope to regain access at some point next week with new passwords. Many thanks to C. who is guiding us through this nightmare.
This fraud has caused us a huge amount of stress, lost sleep, exhaustion and pain (a migraine for me). It’s involved us in three visits to the bank, and three to the police station. I feel very sorry for those who have tricked us without caring about the consequences of their behaviour at all. It must be terrible to be them. So I’m praying that God will call out to them, draw them close, help them to repent, to turn to him, and to begin to follow Jesus. May he bless them with inner spiritual growth, and profoundly changed behaviour.
Yesterday morning, in the midst of all this, I saw in prayer that everything, however bad, happens within God’s hands. This is why, and how, as Saint Paul says, God is able to bring good out of everything:
“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God” (Romans 8:28; NLT).
So now I’m looking for the good, and becoming part of it happening. First of all, I’m going to take a copy of this blog to the police station, with a card for the lovely officers who are helping us. I will do the same for the bank. Now I’m wondering what else God will do, or will prompt me to do? That’s an exciting thought.
My warmest thanks to all those who are praying for us, and have offered their help. I particularly want to thank J, whom I have never met in person. She offered me some money to keep us going, and, most valuable of all, shared with me the prayer she repeats constantly in every kind of trouble or distress: “Jesus, I trust in you”.
This little prayer has brought me a remarkable degree of inner calm during our whole ordeal. Astonishingly (and I’ve never done this before), I haven’t even asked her if I can share it with you all, because I’m so confident that she will say yes. This is a major step in trust for me, as I’m never confident about my acceptability to anyone – so I’m just trusting Jesus!
Thank you, J, from the bottom of my heart. I will never forget you, and what you have given to me – your prayer is riches indeed, and the best thing to come out of the fraud. I was already praying for you and your family, but I’ll be praying even more now!
Anyway, given everything that has been happening, today I’ve chosen a prayer from my precious store of saved resources to share with you all. May God bless everyone who reads this: we are all in his hands, whether we know it or not.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).
Lord,
I never have sufficient time
To praise your everlasting love.
Instead, may I rejoice in you
Throughout each day and night.
I never have sufficient time
To plead for others, as I should.
Instead, Lord, may I pray for them
Throughout each day and night.
I never have sufficient time
To bless you for both bad and good.
Instead, may I give thanks to you
Throughout each day and night, with love.
The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).