A Valley? Or a green pasture?

I have been reading a great daily devotional book that I received in the mail a while back. It has been a great encouragement each morning as I read it. It has prompted me to pull that prayer journal out of my drawer, dust it off, and start using it again. I sat at the table and read thru my entries. Not very many, but obviously important entries. I am just not much of a journaler, but it's been nice to look over my prayer requests since September 2009. I came across the time in our lives when Jason was laid off from his job and wanted to share it, in hopes that it would give someone hope, encouragement, and a peek in the lives of those who live for God, but are also sinners....and we stumble, only to be picked up by our Heavenly Savior, Jesus.
Friday, December 11, 2009 We got bad news on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009. Jason got laid off from Airstip Technologies. We are devastated, sad, angry, frustrated, helpless, etc. It's been two days and our friends have been amazing. I've been working a LOT. I was working when Jason came into the store and told me that he no longer had a job. I was working yesterday when I received a text from Jason. It was a picture of bags of groceries left on our door step from our very good friends. Amazing! They are struggling financially, and yet they buy us groceries. (God's children) Today, another good friend, walked into the store. She told me she's praying for us, is worried about me and that she loves me. (oh to hear those words when all you feel is hopelessness!) Then she asked what we needed. How do you answer a question so big? It came up that our car was out of gas and I needed to get to and from work each day. She asked for the keys and went and filled our car. When she came back, she slipped some money in my hand. Wednesday night as I closed down the store, another friend came in to keep me company, lend support, and brought me coffee. She stayed while I closed the store and walked me to my car. Thursday night, yet another friend came in to the store while I was working, brought me coffee and just wanted to let me know she was there for me. She also asked what bills needed paid or what they could do. Our true family, right here in Castle Rock. Our support...our brothers and sisters in Christ!
Dad has emailed or called at least once a day.
We spent yesterday morning taking Christmas presents back. Wow! That was depressing!
But One thing stays the same through all of this. Jason and I have both agreed that we couldn't handle going through all of this, without God as our Rock!
Thank you, LORD, for being in our lives, for showing your love through your children, our wonderful friends. I pray that you will show us a way to stay in Castle Rock, right where we all want to be!That you will provide for us, humble us, and keep our eyes on you, ALWAYS! I LOVE YOU!
I hope you find that as encouraging as I did as I sat with tears in my eyes reading it this morning. In those few paragraphs, is exactly what the bible talks about. Love, encouragement, answered prayers, trust, faith, etc. Jason has a job. We still live in Castle Rock. And God IS, WAS, and ALWAYS will be our Rock!
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2