Mark’s Story

March 16, 2019

It is no coincidence that my last name is Story because I love hearing other people’s stories. Today I got to hear Mark’s story while we were painting my house. That’s right, we are finally painting my house, which means we finally have walls to paint. YAY!! It has been six long months waiting for my house to be rebuilt after the flood.

Mark attends church with me, but I haven’t gotten to know him until recently. The first time I met him was right after the flood. He and his girlfriend helped clean up the damage. They were both amazing. Neither was afraid to get dirty and do hard work.

The last two days while painting the kids’ rooms, we have been able to talk to and joke around with Mark. We sang along to classic ‘80s rock and hillbilly country while giving his coworker, Nate a hard time. It’s easy to get someone to talk while focused on other things; so, it was easy to get Mark to open up a little about himself.

Mark has three boys, aged 11, 5, and 3. He has been divorced for about a year. He owned his own contracting business, but after the divorce he was forced to dissolve the business. At the time of the flood, he was trying to figure out his next move. He had to finish up the jobs for which he had already been paid, but had to let his workers go because he couldn’t afford to pay them.

While cleaning up the damage to my house, he got to know Jason who also attends our church. Jason owns several rental properties and was in the process of starting his own contracting business. Jason saw that Mark is a hard worker and that he possesses several skills. He can paint, texture, do plumbing, electrical, hang sheetrock, and he has an incredible attention to detail. Mark started doing work for Jason at his rental houses. The two have continued to build their professional relationship.

When tragic things happen to us, it is really hard to see the big picture. We tend to focus only on the negative. I don’t think God caused my house to flood so that Mark could have work, but my tragic event has been used for good. It makes me so happy to know how this has come together. 

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” Floods can happen to anyone at anytime. “Mother Nature” doesn’t care who gets in her way. But God can take the bad things that happen and make things work for good. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and he had to endure many trials, but in the end God used Joseph to save many people. Joseph tells his brothers in Genesis 5:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

I can’t wait to hear more people’s stories. I love hearing how God is using people. What is God doing in your life right now? You could be the answer to someone else’s prayer. The next time you have a flat tire or your glasses break causing you to be late somewhere, just remember that God may have a divine appointment for you.

(Side note: This morning as I was trying to get to the house early to meet Mark for painting— he had a flat tire and my daughter’s glasses broke—causing both of us to arrive late, but at almost the same time. Coincidence? I don’t think so.)