Bishop Marvin Winans
As we all have been through trying times since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic this year has been a particularly difficult year for me. I have been in two auto accidents—one in early May and another (when my vehicle was totaled) in the middle of July. In September I had an involuntary career change and it looked like there would be no possible way to hold on to my home. A serious financial crisis was developing so that by November 16th of this year I was going to have to have almost $4,000.00 to keep my property or I was out. When you are not making enough money and a deadline is only a week away, what do you do?
I was praying to God, on my knees as well as while going from place to place; pleading with him for his kindness and mercy. At the same time, I was sure to admit that I did not deserve his grace or mercy but I was asking for it anyway. I reached out to my family and friends and there was some help forthcoming. But still, I was $1,000.00 away from my goal.
I just could not figure out where this sum was going to come from when the idea struck that a knew a person who was wealthy and probably would help. I ended up paying a visit to his Mom, who is a Christian and nearly 100 years old. She put me on the phone with him and I told him my plight. I held my breath, waiting for his answer . . .and it was, “No.” That was the last hope I had and all I could see were my belongings behind removed and put on the street and having no place safe to return to after work, however, the Mom got up and left the kitchen and came back and counted out ten $100.00 bills and put them into my hand one by one and told me these were my early Christmas presents! As I walked home that night, with tears in my eyes, I was thanking God for making a way when there literally seemed to be no way at all.
God hears and answers our prayers (1 John 5:15), but as every Christian may know, sometimes he says, “No.” This year has been so troublesome and chaotic that the past two months feel like an existential tightrope and if God had told me “No” I can’t imagine what that would be like or what I would do! If anyone knows what the pain of financial lack and an uncertain future is like, put your trust in God first and humbly obey him so that your requests can be made to him with confidence that he will open doors for you. God bless.
Yours truly,
Mark Mountjoy
Related