“For the Lord your God has blessed you in everything you have done.
He has watched your every step through
this “great wilderness”.
During these 40 years, the Lord your God has been with you,
and you have lacked nothing.”
Deuteronomy 2:7 NLT
Could it be that when we walk through the wilderness times (great wilderness) we will lack nothing? What a promise!
I see God’s great faithfulness looking back over my 40 years in business.
When life was on fire, He was there providing and caring for my family, my business, and for me.
In February of 2004, I was notified by the Cloverdale Fire Department there was fire at my laundromat. After driving to Cloverdale in the middle of the night, I watched as my laundromat business burned down to the ground. The fire inspectors never determined the cause of the fire. I was hoping they would find the fires origin. My biggest concern was that my loyal customers were now going to be greatly inconvenienced because the Washing Well was the only laundromat in town.
Decisions had to be made.
Build again?
After 20 years of owning the laundromat, it would mean starting from scratch due to a loophole in the insurance. How could this happen?
City officials came to me and asked me to rebuild. The city very much needed a laundromat. Community members were hard hit as they had to travel by bus or car at least 20 miles to do their laundry. I felt I needed to help the Cloverdale residents by rebuilding the laundromat.
I was given:
Favor with the city.
Favor with financing.
Favor with equipment purchase.
Favor with a contractor who had never built a laundromat but had many decades in construction.
Favor with permits.
The business was up and running in eight months. Amazingly quick!
The enemy meant for my defeat. God literally made all things new. The new facility was twice the size. Yes, it was a lot of work. Yes, God was making gold out of what was literally ashes.
“To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory.”
Isaiah 61:3 NLT
At this same time, I had been in bed for two years with chronic migraine headaches and taking all kinds of medications. This lasted for a total of three years. In my wilderness, God brought a few friends who consistently prayed for the business and for me. They drove me to the construction site so I could make decisions. I am very grateful to them.
In the wilderness, there was no income but God provided for me and my family.
God is a miracle working God!
The new location was more than double the size of the former location which we had outgrown. The customers have a sparkling new and clean laundromat
Twenty years later, the business is still consistently providing for the community. I use the laundromat to hear the needs of the customers, vendors, contractors, etc.
Oh, the miracles! Oh, the lives that have been changed! Oh, the goodness of God!
He IS the way maker.
My family has 120+ years of experience in business. We were taught to love God and business was an access to reach others for Jesus. Prayer is the starting point. I have always prayed over every connection which has included vendors, plumbers, electricians, janitorial staff, and all kinds of service providers as well as with the customers. Each person is an opportunity to hear the need and pray with them.
Only in heaven will we know how many lives and generations were changed because they had a touch from Jesus when they walked in the laundromat. One lady walked in the door and said, “It’s like sunshine in here.” It was an opening to hear how she was hurting. She needed “Sonshine” in her life. I had an open door to talk to her about her need and how Jesus can meet them! And that is what he did. She was there for more than washing her clothes. Now, she knows that God never stops walking beside her every day.
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth comes knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
Proverbs 2:6-8 ESV
Are you wondering about your business? Signet is here for you. We would love to pray for you and your business. What does God want to release over your life, your business or your customers? Let’s pray together for God’s provision, wisdom, and guidance over your business and personal lives.
Love,
Pam Schmidt
Signet Team