God, me, and overhanging trees

Living on a fixed income means keeping down expenses and praying for God to provide, especially when something untimely – like a hurricane – happens. In Florida, such a storm caused an unexpected surge in my homeowner’s insurance, even though I hadn’t needed to make a claim.

After many emails, a few phone calls, and a couple of changes in coverage and companies, I lowered my insurance bill considerably. Two months later, however, the new company advised me that the branches hanging over my roof had to be cut back in thirty days or the policy would be cancelled.

Actually, I’d been concerned about those ancient branches but figured I couldn’t afford to have them removed. With no choice now, I started looking for a professional tree service but couldn’t decide who to call. I needed a recommendation. And I prayed for the Lord to provide someone I could trust.

Since I had a lunch engagement, I went. Coming out of the restaurant I saw a half-dozen county workers in yellow slickers, so I walked up to them and asked, “Do you know someone reasonable and reliable I can call to cut back several tree branches?” They pointed to the guy in civies standing right behind them.

As God-incidence would have it, the man owned a tree service!

We agreed on a time the next day for an estimate, but rain forecasts caused us to reschedule for the following morning. And then he didn’t come. Or call. I even left a couple of phone messages but didn’t hear back.

I was so very sure God had arranged for this help that I decided to wait until Monday to call someone else. But who? After Sunday worship, I asked my church family if they could recommend a reputable and affordable tree service. A friend pointed to a card on the bulletin board and said, “They’re the ones who did work for the church.”

Monday morning, I called, and the owner of the company said he could come right then. He did. And his estimate was less than I expected, even though he agreed to do more. He even accepted credit cards! And he promised to come the next day.

We chatted a bit, and he said, “You might be wondering why a professional service would be available this quickly.” Well, yeah. Then he told me how, for a couple of weeks, a glitch in his phone had hindered calls. Sometimes the phone worked; sometimes it didn’t, so he finally went to buy a new one, but keeping his old number. He was coming out of the phone store when I called – the first call on his new phone.

Perfect timing! But as you know….

Things don’t get perfectly timed unless God orchestrates the circumstances.

And I would not have made that call when I did if I hadn’t waited until Monday to find another tree service.

And I wouldn’t have waited if I hadn’t believed God provided that first possibility, which He obviously did.

The Voice Bible translates Romans 8:28 like this, "We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan." 

Even tree branches aren't out of His jurisdiction to orchestrate - anything, anywhere.

Amen.

 

©2025, Mary Sayler