Our 8 suitcases were bulging with the few possessions we had left, including eight teddy bears! Except for one box we had left with my parents and the little money we had. We were finally ready to leave for the mission field!
There was nothing left to do but relax and wait for the day of departure. Wait – while fighting our doubts, confusion and fears. And the skepticism of friends and family convinced us that we must have lost our minds.
Especially after we told them that we would be living in a tent! “Without electricity, water or a bathroom?” they asked. “Will you at least have beds? Have you completely lost your minds?”
Most of them had already decided that we were crazy after we started homeschooling our children. This was a new and crazy idea in the early 1980s.
So to them, our impending departure and the idea of living in a tent was just more proof of our growing insanity! But their biggest concern was knowing that we wouldn’t have any financial support.
But in the midst of all this, our hearts were at peace. We knew the team we would be working with was waiting for us, and we were so excited to go! Which is why my dream a few days before we left seemed so strange.
No place for you
“We have no place for you,” they said in my dream. “You can’t stay.” So I told Hubby that maybe we shouldn’t leave. What if we got there only to find that they had no place for us to live?!
What would we do? We had nothing. No job or support, no home, and very little money. And maybe not even a tent!
“Don’t worry. It was just a dream brought on by last-minute jitters,” Hubby assured me. “Everything will be fine!”
But no matter how hard I tried to relax, those words “no place for you” kept echoing in my mind.
Even on the plane, my mind was a jumble of thoughts and emotions. “No place for you… The Lord will take care of us… We’ve lost our minds… Everything will be fine…” But mostly, “There’s no place for you… no place for you!”
All I could do at that point was trust God. “It’s going to be okay,” I decided. “After all, it was just a crazy dream!”
But the thought lingered. For sometimes dreams do come true, even terrible ones. And this one did! Their first words were, “We have a bit of a problem here. We lost your tent and there’s no place for you!”
But I can’t deny that, despite my best efforts to forget it all, the thought lingered in the back of mind. Because sometimes dreams do come true, even terrible ones.
And this one did! Their first words upon our arrival were, “We have a bit of a problem here. We’ve lost your tent, and there’s no place for you to live!”
But they had formulated a plan and decided that while they were looking for the missing tent, we should go south to visit Hubby’s father. It had been 9 years since we’d last seen him.
So it was a happy reunion, and for our young children it was almost like meeting their grandfather for the first time! Our exciting missionary adventure had begun!
Lessons from a bad dream come true
I learned two valuable lessons from this experience. First, that even in hard times or difficult moments, we can find reasons to be thankful. We were thankful that we had arrived safely and that our tent was out there somewhere and would probably be found soon.
And second, that sometimes bad dreams do come true. But so much of what we worry about never even happens. We were not left homeless, even if was only a tent. And we even got to see Papà again after so many years!
When we’re left with nothing – no job, no support, no home or tent – all we can do is lean on God’s faithfulness. And we’ll find it’s always enough and more. He is always enough.
God is always faithful
It’s a life-long lesson, learning that God is always faithful.
If we’d known the difficulties and challenges we would face, we might never have gotten on that plane! But God in His wisdom only shows us one day at a time.
And I’m glad we got on that plane. For our years here have taught me that the Lord wants us to live each day in total dependence on His eternal faithfulness. Despite all the difficulties we face.
But instead of looking up to Him in trust, we often look around and worry. We look down and everything seems bleak. We begin to think that there will never be a place for us. We feel like homeless orphans, forgotten by our Father.
But the Lord is good, and He always provides a place for us, even if it’s just a tent. And He will always keep a place for us in heaven, too.
For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.
Psalm 100:5 CSB
Father, we thank you that we’re not orphans, but the beloved children of a caring Father who is ever faithful, who never forgets, and is always present! We are indeed blessed!
📷 Image credits: mountain tent; suitcase; our tent is mine
Signora Sheila 
33 responses to “God Will Keep a Place For You”
Wonderful story of faith. Were you in a tent during all your time in Italia?
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No JD, just the first 3 months. After that, we did a couple of brief stints in camper trailers. Since then we have always lived in apartments or houses, more or less normal!
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Amen. So many ways we are blessed.
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Yes, he is faithful beyond belief!
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The faithfulness of God never ceases to amaze me. He persists in love and provision in spite of my lack of faith. He never gives up on me, even when I doubt Him. You’re right, my friend. it’s a life-long lesson. And we have all of eternity to perfect it.
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Our amazing God. We will never fully plummet his depth here on this earth. Trusting him and knowing him are indeed life-long lessons. But I wonder about your last phrase, Dayle. Will we need to perfect any of those things in heaven? Or will we fully know him, and therefore fully realize his faithfulness, his love, and everything that he is? Will we there be any need to trust him once we are in his presence? I can’t wait to find out!!
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I’m no theologian–I have no idea. But I really think heaven will be a growing in closeness and love with Him as we’re in His presence. I’m looking at my own limitations now, my tendency to wander. But heaven will be perfect for we will be with Him forever. What an adventure. And we can sit and have coffee together!
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I’m no theologian either, Dayle. All I know is that I’m with you. I want to grow closer to him and know him fully. And I know for sure that it’s not possible down here. I get in the way too much. It will be wonder when we get home!!
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Your story brought to mind a quote by Wilfrid Heed: “God has been so lavish in his gifts that you can lose some priceless ones, the equivalent of whole kingdoms, and still be indecently rich.” You and your husband kept your focus on God during those uncertain times. Thank you for your example, Sheila, and the all-encompassing reminder: God is always faithful; God is always enough!
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I’d never heard of Wilfrid Heed, Nancy. But I’m going to have to look him up. He’s so right. In Christ we are indecently rich. God is always faithful, and more than enough!! Thanks for your encouragement, my friend!
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And you encourage me, Sheila!
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The body of Christ is so wonderful!!
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Your post reminds me of a saying we had in college that has stuck with me. “When everything is gone and only God is left, we realize that God is enough.”
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I love that saying and would love to know who first said it. It’s so true because God is greater than our needs. I wish I could see and really realize just how great he is every day of my life. He is enough, and more than enough!
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Isn’t it lovely how God’s Plan has a way of working out and increasing our faith? Beautifully worded post <3
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Thanks Ellie! It is amazing. And the wonderful thing is that he never stops leading and guiding us. He always goes before us and marks the path. He is so good!!
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Love, love where you said – “And second, when we find ourselves left with nothing, no job or security, and not even a home, we have nothing left but God’s faithfulness to lean on. And that is always more than enough. He never fails and his faithfulness is new every morning.
It’s been a life-long lesson, this learning that God is always faithful.” Amen and Amen!! God bless and thank you!! :D
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Thanks Redeemed, I’m so grateful that the Lord allowed me to go through that and other trying times. They helped me see how great his faithfulness really is!! Thanks for your encouragement!
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Oh, yes… Our God is amazing! And He provides for us, one step at a time. I think we try to look too far ahead instead of remembering Christ’s words in Matthew 6:25-34. You speak from experience and your testimony and words carry great weight! Your authenticity and faith encourage and inspire me! I love this post! Thank you for sharing your amazing testimony of God’s daily provision and your heart of gratitude! <3
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You hit the nail on the head Lynn. We often do try to look ahead. Even though we may never see tomorrow. God has been so gracious to me in allowing to go through experiences that would stretch and grow my faith. I’m eternally grateful, though at the time of those events, I’m sure I often complained! God is good!!
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Sheila, this gives great perspective at the beginning of a new year. Thank you.
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Thank you Vanessa! And yes, it is a great thought to start the year with. All year long, every day God will have a place for us!
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Thank you so much for sharing. This was really interesting to read, and to see how God provided <3
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Thanks TR. He has been (and still is) so so good to us. all these long years he has been faithful!
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<3
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Thank you for sharing your recollections and the life lessons you learned from them regarding our Lord and Savior, Sheila. Nice to make your acquaintance!
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Thank you David, and I was so encouraged to meet you over at your blog too. I’m grateful for all the difficult experiences the Lord allowed in my life. For through them I have learned to know him more. And just hope that they can encourage at least one person. Nice to know you and your blog!
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Thanks for sharing this awesome testimony of following God’s will and His awesome provision.
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Thanks Tom. His provision and faithfulness are always so awesome. I guess that’s why it always amazes me that I’m still able to allow doubts to creep in!
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Thank you for sharing this great testimony of God’s great faithfulness.
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You got that right Tom. It’s a testimony of God’s great faithfulness!!
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Thank you so much for sharing your story. It blessed me immensely and I thank God for missionaries like you who will stay the course even in difficulty
Be blessed
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God has blessed us so much through these years, Pete. They are but testimonies of his greatness!
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