Ground Down, But Not Forsaken

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” — Psalm 37:23-24

For most of my life, Oregon was home. I loved its mountains, waterfalls, forests, and coastline. But after the devastating wildfires of 2020 and growing concerns about the direction of the culture around us, my wife and I spent much time in prayer and sought counsel from our church elders and trusted mentors. Together, we felt led to make a difficult decision: leave everything familiar behind and move our family to Texas.

In 2024, we sold our home and settled in Fort Worth. We purchased a modest house and invested as much as we could into the down payment so that my wife could continue homeschooling our children and serving in her co-ops. I accepted a pay cut to transfer within my company, believing that we were following the path God had placed before us.

Since then, however, one challenge after another has arrived.

Critical problems with our home were missed during inspection. Our HVAC system failed due to undisclosed issues. Major plumbing repairs and a water treatment system became necessary. My wife experienced a medical emergency that resulted in unexpected expenses. Each setback seemed to arrive before we had recovered from the last.

Like many families, we turned to credit cards simply to keep up while handling emergencies. We tightened every area of our budget. We do not live extravagantly. We drive older vehicles, rarely eat out, and choose road trips over flights. My wife began taking on laundry work through Poplin to help supplement our income. We have worked, sacrificed, and done everything we know to do.

Recently, after being told we qualified to refinance and access some of the equity in our home, we spent nearly $1,000 on appraisal and processing fees only to have the loan denied at the final stage. The result has left us behind on our mortgage and facing the very real possibility of losing our home.

Now we are dealing with significant water intrusion and what appears to be extensive dry rot on one side of the house, creating yet another repair we cannot currently afford.

I was raised believing that a husband and father should carry the responsibility of caring for his family. My father worked tirelessly throughout his life, and I watched him trust God through every hardship. That example shaped me. Yet today I find myself exhausted, discouraged, and struggling to see a way forward.

Still, I refuse to believe we have been abandoned.

If you are able and feel led to help financially, our family would be deeply grateful. More than anything, we ask for your prayers—that God would provide wisdom, strength, provision, and a path through this storm.

I have never felt more pressed on every side, but I still believe that God works miracles.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and pray for our family.

Ground down, but not forsaken.

— Eric, Mary, Ella & Michael