The Day We Had Nothing

And God came through

Have you ever read the words “Trust God” in a devotional or Instagram caption and rolled your eyes; not because it’s wrong, but because it feels like just another overused Christian cliché.

There are so many sayings in our faith that get tossed around like confetti: “Let go and let God.” “God’s got this.” “Just have faith.” They’re meant to encourage, but if we’re honest, they often lose their power. We scroll past them, nod without thinking, or flip the page to something that “hits deeper.”

But here’s the thing: just because something’s become a cliché doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Trusting Him isn’t optional for a fulfilling, God-centered life. It’s foundational. But what does that even mean? And how do we do it—really do it—when we’re staring down rent we can’t pay or fighting for a business to stay afloat?

Let me share two stories—one from early in my marriage and one from just last week. In both, I had no choice but to surrender. And in both, God showed me exactly what trust looks like in action.

A Special Trip

Joel and I were newly married, living in a small apartment, barely making ends meet. I was working at Starbucks when I got the call: Joel’s dad had suffered a brain aneurysm. We packed our bags that night and made the nine-hour drive to Laredo the next morning.

Here’s the catch—we were flat broke. We had just enough saved for rent, which was due in a week, and we knew this trip would drain it all. But we prayed, packed anyway, and left.

The days in Laredo were long and emotional. His dad was in an induced coma, and our visits consisted of quiet prayers, hand-holding, and watching this strong, brilliant man lie sleeping the entire time. The future was uncertain. The doctors gave no guarantees.

On the long drive home, Joel turned to me and said something I’ll never forget:

“We’re in a win-win. If I lose my dad, he has salvation—he’ll be in heaven, free from pain. But if he recovers, it’ll be a miracle from God. Either way, we win.”

I was stunned. Joel wasn’t being flippant—he was choosing to put all his trust and faith in God. I still felt fear, but something shifted in me as I watched his trust in action. I decided to let go of the fear and jump in to this faith, too. I chose to trust that God was in control.

We got home exhausted, and the next morning was rent day. I asked Joel if I should talk to the office, maybe explain our situation.

“No,” he said. “We have a grace period. Let’s wait and see what God does. In fact, let’s pray.”

So we knelt at the couch in our tiny living room and asked God for help.

Two days later—our last day of grace—I kissed Joel goodbye as he walked out the door to work. As he left I opened my laptop, expecting the sight of zeros. But instead, my jaw dropped: our account had three times the amount we needed for rent. Out of nowhere, the Army had deposited unexpected back pay for my GI Bill—something I wasn’t even tracking.

I ran out the door yelling, “Joel, wait!” We squealed in disbelief as the news. Not only did we pay the rent—we bought groceries, paid our bills, and kept going with joy in our hearts.

Was it luck? Coincidence? No. It was faith. It was God.

A Miracle Just Last Week

Fast forward to today. I now run a resume writing firm here in El Paso. If you’ve bought groceries, gas, or searched for a job lately, you know times are tough—and this economy has taken its toll on my business and my clients.

The leads slowed down. My inbox got quiet. I was burning myself out trying to market, brainstorm, and hustle my way through the slump. But a few weeks ago, I hit a wall. I sat down and told God, “I’m so tired. I’ve done all I can. If something good is going to happen, it’s going to have to come from You.”

And I meant it. I wasn’t giving up on the business—but I was giving up on the anxiety, the control, the striving. I chose to trust.

And then—He moved.

Old clients referred their cousins and siblings. New prospects started calling. In just one week, we made over half of what we’d earned the entire month before. Leads came from directions I never saw coming.

You could say it was timing or economic shift. But I know better. I’ve seen what happens when I stop trying to be God and simply trust Him to be who He says He is.

Faith in Action

So what does it really mean to trust God?

It means letting go—not of responsibility, but of fear.
It means giving Him your anxiety and waking up each day expecting Him to show up.
It means taking your hands off the outcome and still showing up to do your part while you wait on Him.

If you’re in a hard place, I encourage you: don’t just say you trust Him—live it out.

Find a passage of Scripture and read it daily. Spend time in prayer—but also in silence. Let Him speak. Surrender your what-ifs, your plans, your panic.

And then... watch what He does.

Those who trust in the Lord will never be put to shame. Psalm 25:3

What About You?

What would change if you truly trusted God with your life, your family, your finances, your future?

I’ve got another story I can’t wait to share with you next week. Until then—hold on to faith. God is always working, even when you can’t see it.