Paid in FULL

Paid in full.

What does this mean?

Anyone living in this crazy time understands the greatness of being "debt-free" or finally being "in the green." It is something to be thankful for if it comes, but something also that typically we feel like we are going to have to work REALLLLLLLLLLY hard to get. I'm talking 9-5, weekends, after hours, two jobs, starving children. . .that's the kind of "hard" I am talking about.

You know what?

Sometimes, you don't have to work hard. Sometimes you don't have to do anything, not in a worldly sense.

I grew up poor. I'm talking soup kitchen, trailer park, one outfit poor. So in comparison with that past, anything is going to go "up" from that. I understand that working hard is a good quality. Yes, I know, slothfulness is a sin; thus, we should try to avoid this by seeking God and working as if we work for the Lord, not for man.

All this to say, now in my 20's, I have just recently had a "backslide" experience. After all my medical issues (while having NO insurance), my husband and I were left with a $35,000 debt to the hospital, not to mention all of the little side bills they love to send weeks after (probably several thousand more). This would put us back in that "poor/indebted/unsure" category that can be confusing and frustrating. Also, we just weren't sure where the money would come from if the hospital wanted loads of money each month. I like to eat. Food is good.

We filled out the financial aid packet, we prayed, and we told God that we knew He could pay off this debt for us. We also told God that we knew this was His decision. Perhaps His desire was for us to pay this off while leaning on Him. Perhaps He'd show up with His "magical checkbook" and whip out His pen made of angel wings. We did not know how He would answer our prayers, but we trusted in His judgement and in His ability to judge what would be the best for us as a family.

Last night, we shared our troubles with small group. We've shared with others, but not in a group setting or with a group from our new church, so we were thankful for their love, support, and prayers.

After all the weeks prior of praying at home and praising God for either path He might choose to give, it was nice to join with others (in person) for prayer.

The hospital has sent us so many envelopes with bills, I was starting to get paper cuts and lose sensation in my fingers, so when I saw ANOTHER envelope I was reluctant to open it.

Open.

Slowly read (I still can't see).

100%.

Paid in full.

Account taken to $0.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?!?!!?!?!?

God considered and heard our prayers. He acted upon them (this time, in a desired way), and we now have nothing left but the random (much smaller) bills from the different doctor's offices and labs.

PAID IN FULL.

GOD PAID MY DEBT IN FULL.

GOD ANSWERED MY PRAYER AND PAID MY DEBT IN FULL.

$0.

I cried so much after reading this letter. It was a slight remembrance of God coming into my life. A tangible experience that others can understand who may not yet know this great God.

Did I have to work for this? No. All we did was fill out the form and pray. Did I work fifty hard years to pay off this debt and interest? No. Did I become another man's slave? No. Did I change anything about myself to try and look more appealing? No.

Salvation.

Paid in full.

My debt brought to nothing; my slate wiped clean; a new creation.

When God calls and you answer, your debt too can be paid in full. While I am thankful to have no hospital debt, I am MORE thankful to know that while I was sick in the hospital, I knew what would happen if anything were to happen to me. My slate had already been wiped clean. I knew that if my Lord called to me again (this time a call to go home), I'd be able to. My slate would be a carbon copy of the life of Christ. When God looks at me, HE sees Christ.

Did I work for this? No. Did I work my way to be funky enough to get God's attention? No. Did I make myself trendy and hide my sin so that I might appear clean to God? No.

We are not required to clean ourselves up before answering God's call. We must be ready at a moment's notice. He doesn't want a "fancier version" of you--He wants YOU. For free. Paid in full; balance $0.

Now that is "in the green."

Green is a symbol for life & tranquility. I often use it in my classroom because it is supposed to be soothing. I pray that I would ALWAYS remember to thank God for bringing my life "into the green" where I could enjoy Him and live forever.

Let God make you green.