It was exactly one year ago this week that our heating system in our home went out. Our heating system is a radiant heating system – meaning, it requires a hot water heater to send hot water to radiators located throughout our home.
Hubby and I had been out of town for a few days when this occurred. Evidently the heating system had broken shortly after we left and had been out probably the entire time we were away. When we arrived back home our house was very frigid!
A radiant-heating professional came out to take a look at the situation and he recommended we get a boiler rather than another hot-water heater. At the time we had both a standard hot-water-heater tank (for our home’s hot water needs) as well as a tankless hot-water-heater for our radiant heating system.
We followed his professional advice … and had our old hot-water tank removed and a new boiler installed.
What makes a boiler so incredibly energy-efficient is that it only comes on when there is an immediate need for hot water. Therefore, rather than use energy to heat up an entire tank of hot water (and then maintain that heat ongoing in the tank), the boiler only heats the water which is being immediately used: such as when our heating system comes on … or when we take a shower … or when the dishwasher is running, or the washer … etc. …
As soon as the heating system shuts off … the boiler shuts off.
As soon as the shower ends … the boiler shuts off.
As soon as the washer cycle finishes … the boiler shuts off.
But what this also means is that if we were to ever lose power … our water instantly goes icy cold! Instantly! There is no large tank full of stored hot water anymore.
We have only lost power once since having the new boiler installed … and this insta-icy-coldness was a huge shock and surprise to me! My entire life I’ve always had a hot-water tank. My entire life I’ve always been used to an ample supply of warm water, even if the power goes out.
And there have been times in the past when the power has gone out while I’ve been in the shower. But no worries … the hot water keeps going.
Not anymore. If the power were to go out now – now that we have a boiler – you can bet we’d be out of that shower in a heartbeat!! Instant icy-coldness!!
This thought was lingering in the back of my mind all last week as the beautiful snow fell. Each morning hubby and I awoke to several inches of fresh new snow. And each day I couldn’t help but be aware that if the power were to go out, our water would be insta-icy!
Thankfully we did not lose power! Thank you Jesus!
This situation did bring to light the fact that I’ve always trusted the hot water to be there. Without even thinking about it, I’ve always trusted the hot water to be there. Even if power were to be out for several days, the hot water would be there for at least a while.
So also, in the same way, when it comes to life, we all have things which we subconsciously trust to be there if we were ever to wind up in a hard place.
We trust our savings account will be there.
We trust our job will be there.
We trust that person will be there.
We trust our retirement account will be there.
Etc. etc. etc. …
But not having a hot-water tank anymore … and not being able to trust that the hot water will be there if the power suddenly goes out … it’s made me realize that all of life is vulnerable like this!
I now have to trust God more.
Of course I trusted God before. But now I’m even more aware of God’s care over us of keeping the power on! … in a way I wasn’t really aware of before. Because now I’m very much aware that an icy-cold shower is a distinct possibility.
As I look ahead into the upcoming months, there are some very overwhelming things on the calendar which I’m wondering how God is going to provide the strength and energy for.
God, are you going to give me the strength for that??
I trust God. But at the same time, it’s tempting to worry!
I know you probably have your own set of “overwhelming” which is sitting out there in your upcoming months. Things which you are wondering how God is going to get you through.
– God, are you going to provide the finances for that worrisome need??
– God, are you going to take care of my job??
– God, are you going to help us through this difficult situation??
Whatever it is, you are probably feeling overwhelmed and burdened by it all.
God will always make a way!
This is what I’ve been pondering today … as I’ve been thinking back to our heating system going out this time last year, and the fact that I can’t trust in a hot-water tank anymore. In the same way, neither can any of us trust in those “backup plans” we subconsciously have in the back of our mind. Not really.
It’s like the manna which God provided for his people Israel in the wilderness. They had to trust God each day for their daily food. They couldn’t store up food to have “just in case” God didn’t come through. Any food they tried to store up would go bad and become full of maggots.
The people had to trust God each day.
They didn’t have any “backup plan” to fall back on “just in case.” Just like I now don’t have any hot-water tank to fall back on “just in case.” I have to actively trust God … each day.
Those overwhelming things on my calendar which I’m looking ahead to … God will provide! I can’t store up “backup energy” … I have to actively trust God in the moment, in the day-by-day, to give me the strength that I will need.
So also, in the same way, those heavy burdens which you are facing right now, which you are wondering how God is going to get you through … God will provide!
We can’t “store up” and have a “backup plan” to fall back on “just in case.” God wants us to trust him in the moment. God wants us to actively trust him in the day-by-day.
God will provide! God will provide the “manna” we each need … but only one day at a time.
God will always make a way!
