Gods way out of the fire

A few years ago, we took over a company on a whim. This concerned the rental of three glamping tents. The first year we actually ran very well, although it took a lot of energy and time to get everything done. Also, our efforts to expand our business were in vain. No doors opened. Someone asked us if we involved God in our company. This was not the case. From then on we prayed and asked for guidance. We also asked for forgiveness, because we were walking our own way and not God's way. Then came the Ascension Day in 2023. I (Marijke) woke up by the hum of my mobile. Who calls so early in the morning? It was the manager of the campsite. 'Marijke, I have to tell you something bad. Two of your tents are on fire and we don't know yet if the guests are out yet. Can you come as soon as possible?' I hung up, broke and told Matthijs the story. 

The first thing we did after that was pray and ask if everyone could be safe. Fortunately, we were called again within ten minutes with the message that everyone was safe. What a great relief that was! We thanked God and the rest of the day we were lived, by emotions, messages, arranging things and the big question; 'What now?' 'Is this the end of our newly founded company or are we going to start over?' 

To process everything, we talked a lot with friends and church members. This is also the case with our pastoral worker. We were mainly looking for an answer from God to the question: 'And now?' He then came up with the Bible text Isaiah 30:21 'With your own ears you will hear a word from behind you: This is the way, walk in it. This is in case you would go to the right or to the left.' A week later I received the same text from my women's circle. From then on we knew; God is with us, whatever decision it is.

In the end, we decided to stop. No matter how difficult this decision was, God was with us throughout the process and we never felt alone, but always carried. The arsonist was eventually acquitted. But what is so special; We have never been angry with this person. We also believe that God did not cause the fire, but that He used it for good. We now involve Him in decisions we make and will never again make such a big decision without Him.