The Open Cell

 I have talked with so many Christians who feels trapped.  Some fell into a trap while others made their own with their decisions.  I have felt this way too, and even recently.  

When I got home with my youngest child after being in the hospital for almost two months, I found that I almost immediately needed to start  packing because our lease was expiring.  I talked to a friend about it who said, "I thought you had another year."  I did too and so it was unsettling that I had overlooked such a huge thing as housing!  We had one hope for a little house in the area, but when I went to see it I was heavily disappointed.  Even the foundation was cracking.  We found a housing program which seemed like a great opportunity, but then they told us that we made too much money to qualify.   So my lease ended and my rent was bumped up significantly where we were with no possibility of extending our lease because we didn't receive the paperwork (I thought this was strange but figured it was a COVID thing). 

Along with this, school was starting soon for my oldest child who is in a special needs classroom.  In order to ensure that he would be able to stay in school once he started, we enrolled him in an online school.  We found the best option that we could, but they didn't have the best special education programs.  The result was going to be that he would have to be demoted at least a full grade.  Devastating!  Even worse, I informed the online school that Christopher would not be attending but they went forward and dis-enrolled him from the school where he was staying instead!  After two weeks of going back and forth with the registration office to re enroll him in his previous school, they cancelled my appointment.  A lady told me that I had to produce paperwork from his previous school that I never got from them (remember he never actually attended the online school).  

I felt completely trapped! I couldn't move, but my lease was up; I had my son in school but he got dis enrolled; oh and my youngest got switched from home therapy to outpatient but no one ever contacted me.  My oldest was missing weeks of school, my youngest was missing weeks of therapy, and my middle son was doing his regular and driving everyone crazy.  

I felt like I had been trapped, and the walls were closing in, but then God reminded me of Paul and Silas in the Bible.  God opened the prison gates for these men as they were worshiping him. God reminded me his promise that even if the prison cell is our own doing that with every temptation, he has a way of escape for us.  God reminded me that when his wife told him to curse God and die that instead Job chose to worship and honor the God who gives and takes away.  Children of the most high and loving God if you are feeling locked up right now, please understand that God is with you and he has an opening for you.  All you have to do is honor him right where you are, and look for the salvation of the LORD.  No prison can hold God's people.  

After I stopped panicking and fussing, I prayed.  The first thing that I did was go down to my leasing office to get a copy of my lease for my son's school because they required it or a letter from my leasing office letting them know that we were going month to month.  As I handed over the letter for them to fill out the lady went back into her office to check our information and realized that we were still within our lease.  We had sign a two year lease and it wasn't expired yet!  Praise Jesus!  However, we were still being over charged quite a bit.  So the leasing agent told me that we were due a credit on our rent and that I should talk with the financial office.  I called several times and was passed around the office as if no one knew what to do, but finally on the fourth attempt we were able to get our lease straightened out.  

Next was Christopher's school.  I talked with the head of registration in person and then on the phone. After she informed me that it DID make a difference that he was a returning student and that she could surely pull my son's information, he was enrolled. This was a stark difference from what the other registration worker told me. Praise the LORD!  

I would also note that even though my youngest son has not been getting therapy, his MRI last week showed that he is improving anyway!  Hallelujah!  

Understand that any situation that you are in right now, is not able to hold you because God can open doors that no man can shut. Be strong in the Lord and worship him right where you are.  Can you see the walls coming down?  If not then you will.  Keep praying, keep trusting God, Keep worshiping him and obeying him.  You will see the salvation of the Lord.  

Revelation 3:7-8

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.