Our refrigerator died.  We bought it less than three years ago for our new house that Husband built. Yes, there are several lawsuits against the manufacturer.  We aren’t the only ones.  But that doesn’t help us get a new refrigerator.  We realized our

beautiful, shiny fridge wasn’t keeping the food cold at 5:05 pm on a Friday evening.  Great timing.  We called a kind man in our church who has a used appliance business.  Would he be willing to come have a look at our broken fridge?  Nope.  He doesn’t work on that brand because they’re junk, but yes, he could bring us a decent used fridge for the garage to use until we could buy a bigger one for the kitchen. In half an hour, he arrived with a good little fridge.  We transferred our food to the garage.   Nothing spoiled.  Nothing to complain about.  Disaster averted.  Monday morning we made more phone calls.  Three more repairmen refused to work on our brand.  The warranty we thought we had, was worthless. 

“Why won’t they just check their email and answer us?!”  My pet peeve is CraigsList sellers who list their fridge for sale, ask to be contacted via email, then never check their email.  Huh.  Wonder why they can’t sell their merchandise. Almost a month later, we still have no refrigerator in the kitchen.  

 I swing back and forth.  Most days I’m chill about the situation.  Husband is so helpful about sharing trips to the garage fridge.  Every once in a while I just get irritated.  Are we ever going to have a refrigerator in our kitchen again?!  Then I’m ashamed of myself.  I have a refrigerator in the garage most of the world’s population would be ecstatic over.  In fact, we lived for five years with one about half the size when we lived overseas.  What makes me think I should have the luxury of a large, pretty, efficient machine that most of the inhabitants of earth couldn’t dream of having?  

Of course, this is a very small matter compared to other people’s trials and even some other trials of my own. It’s just one small way the Lord has brought to my attention my need for patience, perseverance, and trust.  Here’s what I’m learning.  (Some of these apply more to the bigger trials than to my small refrigerator trial.)

Get ready for God to answer

I need to take responsibility for the things I can do.  I must look for ways to solve the problem and be diligent to keep trying when I feel fed up.  Then, after I’ve done all I can do, I must trust that God will do what I can’t.  His outcome is best.

Make sure nothing is preventing God’s answer

   I have to continually check my attitudes.  Entitlement is ugly.  Griping is ugly.  Ungratefulness is ugly.  Nagging is really ugly.  All are unproductive.  Wait, they actually are productive.  They produce negativity in myself and those around me and hinder any forward movement.  How could God bless those attitudes?

   I have to check my motives.  Is it pride that is preventing forward movement?  Do I want what I want and that isn’t leaving room for another solution?

   I have to check for disobedience.  Am I putting unnecessary pressure on poor Husband who is doing the best he can?  Am I doubting God’s timing?

Wait with faith

   When I’m tempted to obsess.  When I’m tempted to dwell on what I don’t have.  When I’m tempted to look at my need more than looking at my God.  When looming human deadlines approach and fear slithers in.  

   “I know you see our needs, Lord.  I know you care.  I know you are able to meet our needs.  I know your timing is perfect.”  God delights in our faith.  He rewards our faith.  Without it, we can’t please God.  It’s what he’s looking for.  I keep repeating, “I know you see.  I know you care.  I know you can.  I know you will – in the best way in the best time.”

Counting my blessings

   So much I’ve already been given now and throughout my whole life.  I remember the times God has come thru for us in the past.  

   I imagine what he is preparing for us in the next life! 

   I often say, “Thank you, Lord, that you’re in charge.  I wouldn’t have picked this struggle, but you always do the right thing for the best outcome.  You know waaaaay more than I do.  I’ll take your way.”

Reality check

   God never promised life would be easy.  (But, in reality, we have it far easier than most people.  When I think of dear friends facing horrible health issues, marriage hurts, even persecution, I realize how easy I have it.)

“Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.  Then you will receive all that he has promised.  Hebrews 10:36

   Challenges make us stronger, more dependent on God, and more heavenly minded.  

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  Romas 5:3-4

   Challenges make us more compassionate toward others going thru hardship so we can help them.  When you have a problem, who do you go to?  You find someone who has faced what you’re facing.  A parent who has lost a child seeks out someone who has lost a child and come thru it.  Someone fighting an addiction finds help from someone who has successfully kicked their own addiction.  Only someone who has gone thru what you’re going thru can speak to you where you are.  Know that your trial experience will help someone else.

“God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.  For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.  Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.”  1 Corinthians 1:3-6

P.S. There’s now a fridge in our kitchen, and it’s humming along chilling our food!

Extra reading- some surprising facts:

Twenty percent of the world didn’t have electricity in 2012. 1. 

As author Matt Ridley put it, “Today, of Americans officially designated as ‘poor,’ 99 percent have electricity, running water, flush toilets, and a refrigerator; 95 percent have a television, 88 percent a telephone, 71 percent a car and 70 percent air conditioning.”   In fact, we Americans are more privileged than we realize.  “… World Bank economist Branko Milanovic presented in his 2010 book The Haves and the Have-Nots. … To be in the top half of the globe, you need to earn just $1,225 a year. For the top 20%, it’s $5,000 per year. Enter the top 10% with $12,000 a year. To be included in the top 0.1% requires an annual income of $70,000.” (In US dollars.  Statistics from 2011). 2.

   1.  http://chicagopolicyreview.org/2012/02/27/the-car-the-refrigerator-and-the-worlds-booming-demand-for-energy/

   2.  https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/10/28/attention-protestors-youre-probably-part-of-the-1-.aspx