I went to the grocery store this evening and was surprised to find it incredibly busy.  The fact that it was Friday played into it of course, but now I've come to learn that we're facing anywhere from 5 to 12 inches of snow this weekend!  Here I was, simply trying to do a routine grocery trip, but lots of people were there trying to stock up for the storm.

In recent months since prices have gone up on so many things, I've been working hard to find ways to cut our family's grocery costs as much as possible.  With four children (2 of whom are teenagers), we can go through a lot of food!  I've read up on The Grocery Game strategies, for one.  My kids tease me about my coupon habit.    But I've started to get pretty good at matching sales and coupons and stocking up.

So as I watched all these people shopping this evening, hurrying at the last minute to get ready for the storm that was coming, I smiled knowing that all I was doing was my regular shopping.  Now, I did do some stocking-up, but only because they were sale items I'd planned to buy all along.  Because I've made a way to store some extra food in our house, I didn't feel the need to do any panic buying "just in case" and end up spending extra money as a result.  Rather, thanks to the combination of sale prices and coupons, I saw the total go from about $250 before the cashier swiped my card and ran my coupons...to $186 after.  I know there are others who are even better at this sort of thing than I am, but I'm still a bit green at this system...still working on building up my supplies at home so that I can simply shop to rebuild supplies as they go on sale rather than being forced to pay full price because we're out of something.  And besides, a big portion of the grocery bill included the purchase of two kinds of fish, about 10 pounds of ground beef, a package of pork chops, 4 pounds of breakfast sausage and about 30 pounds of chicken pieces.  A lot of meat.  I was buying so much chicken because the drumsticks and thighs were on sale for only $1/pound.

And yes, this does take some storage.  I'm thankful that the house we started renting in October came with a good-sized pantry in the kitchen.  Then in the basement we have a second refrigerator, the freezer compartment now almost completely packed full (I would just LOVE to be able to afford to purchase a small chest or upright freezer--I know I could save us even more if I did, but I make do.).  There is also a large cabinet in the basement that someone built down there at some point.  I found old paint and other such supplies left behind in it when we moved in.  For our needs, however, I decided it was perfect for a backup pantry.  This is where I store additional canned and packaged goods that I purchase in larger quantities at stores like Aldi and Sav-A-Lot or else purchase in smaller quantities when they are on sale at one of my other regular grocery stores.

Just as it feels good to have a full pantry and a full freezer before a big snowstorm is about to hit, I am thankful to have, over time, built up a store of faith in Our Heavenly Father.  With so much uncertainty in the air right now...with the economy so shaky, my job ending in a month, etc., I feel such peace.  And I know that it's not just "head-in-the-sand" syndrome.  I am doing what I can to be prepared.  But I've learned to rest.  To rest in Jesus.

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for the time when He would no longer be with them He said,

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

HIS peace He gives us.  And His peace, in the words of Paul the Apostle, "transcends all understanding".

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

In times of uncertainty, it's important to not allow ourselves to slip in to "panic mode", but rather to be thoughtful in our actions--to not allow ourselves to be caught up in a frenzy of fear and "crisis mode" that others may try to drag us into.  Rather, rest in Jesus.  HIS peace will stay with you...and will help guard your heart from fear, your mind from worry.