The $32,000 Miracle

“A man just dropped off a check for $32,000.” “

What? Are you sure it's real?” I ask my wife, Debbie, over the phone.

“I’m not completely sure. He was representing Wachovia Bank. Apparently, we were named in a settlement. I’m going to deposit it. But, if it’s real, you know what this means, right?” 

“It’s an answer to prayer,” I say. “That’s more than enough...”

Debbie and I were exploring the idea of adoption, but the high cost ($25,000) was an issue. We had lost our business, along with our home, during the 2008 crisis a few years earlier. We were still recovering financially. 

We had a four-year-old son, Lincoln. We always imagined a larger family. However, after two miscarriages, a daughter who died at birth, and medical complications that nearly took Debbie’s life, we weren’t sure if our plans aligned with God’s plans.

So, we prayed …

And while we prayed, unbeknownst to us, someone, somewhere, listed us as a beneficiary of a settlement from Wachovia Bank. They concluded that the failed bank owed us $32,000. That was more than enough to adopt a child. God had answered our prayers. 

We deposited the check and contacted Bethany Christian Services to apply for adoption. We were warned that it could take months, if not years, for us to be matched with a child. 

We went through the proper courses and paperwork in record time. One week later, we received the phone call…

“How would you like to adopt twins?”

A birthmother had selected us to adopt her boys. They were six weeks old and needed to be picked up the next day.

We hung up the phone, praised God for about one minute, called our family the next minute, and then made a mad dash to get another crib, another car seat, more bottles, and everything else we could think of to bring two baby boys home.

It was a wild ride. 

A few months later, I received the bill from the adoption agency. My jaw dropped as I tallied the total cost: $32,000.

God gave us exactly what we needed to adopt our sons, Jaxson and Jace.

As Paul says in Ephesians, God is “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” [Ephesians: 3:20-21]

God’s plans were more abundant than our own.

I tell you this story because it shows the power of God’s providence and was a turning point in our lives.

You see, Debbie and I had been through a long, dark season. Years and years of asking “Why God? Where are you? Is this really your plan?” One frustrating chapter led to another frustrating chapter.

It’s hard to explain what it’s like to walk into bankruptcy court in 2008, admit that our business had failed … that we couldn’t pay the hundreds of thousands owed, and hand over the keys to our house.

It’s hard to explain what it’s like to walk into our newborn daughter’s bedroom … perfectly decorated to welcome her home … with only a death certificate in hand.

It’s hard to explain what it’s like to see my wife go through months of excruciating pain and hear her singing 10,000 Reasons for My Heart to Sing as she’s wheeled into a surgery that would either save her life or end it.

But then a new season came. A season of joy and prosperity. Years and years of saying, “Wow, God! There you are! So, THIS is your plan.” One amazing chapter led to another amazing chapter. 

It’s hard to explain the joy we received as the doctor saved my wife’s life and then witness her fully recover.

It’s hard to explain the joy we received as we placed those tiny boys into their cribs, and then, two years later, welcomed their baby sister, Lilly, home.

And it’s hard to explain the joy we received as God opened the doors for us to start new business ventures that would flourish … so much so that we were able to donate six figures to our church, annually.

When we imagine the course of our lives, this is often what we desire …

But God’s plans are a bit different, aren’t they? His plans look a bit more like this…

Now, which one looks more adventurous?

Which one will make you stronger?

Which one will shape your character?

Yeah.

God’s plans.

Christians often state, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans.”

I think that’s true. But God’s laugh is not a cynical one. It’s a joyous laugh, like how a father might laugh as his child plays with the cardboard box instead of the toy inside the box. A laugh that says, “The real joy is yet to come. It’s when you unwrap what’s in front of you. There is so much more! There is a life of abundance!”

A laugh that says, I know what you are going through is tough. And I know you are frustrated. But there is a reason beyond your understanding. Just know that I have plans for you … “Plans to prosper you … plans to give you hope and a future.” [Jeremiah 29:11]

Plans to prosper you.

To give you wealth, yes.

But prosperity is so much more than just money. Abundant Prosperity is a life with true joy because you aren’t just reading about God’s story … you’re actively participating in it!

And that’s what my new book is all about.

I pray that it will show you how to unlock your ability to give, gain, and grow your wealth so that you can build God’s Kingdom “on earth as it is in Heaven.”

And it starts today.

You see, long before a guy showed up at our door with a $32,000 check, we were giving God our “first fruits.” Debbie and I had tithed our entire lives. When we had a little bit of money, we gave. When we had a lot of money, we gave.

And because we gave during good times and bad times (and continue to give now), God has opened the floodgates of heaven and is pouring out so much blessing, we don’t have enough room to store it [Malachi 3:10]

We’ve gained millions of dollars through our business ventures.

We’ve seen our money grow by millions of dollars through various investments … investments that have increased 5-fold and even 10-fold.

And we’ve given millions of dollars to our church and other Christian organizations.

We were faithful with a little, so God has put us in charge of many things [Matthew 25 and Luke 19]

Don’t get me wrong. We aren’t super rich by worldly standards. I still drive a 2011 Jeep Wrangler. Debbie still shops at TJ Maxx. And we live in a middle-class neighborhood.

But we’ve seen our nest-egg grow so much that I was able to retire at 45 years of age and live a good life off our investments while I pursue a higher calling … the calling to write my book and show you (and hopefully millions of other folks) how to experience Abundant Prosperity.

The finalized version of the book is about to be released! You can pre-order it now by clicking here.

If you’d like to get the first chapter for free, you can do so by clicking here.

Aaron DeHoog
Founder, Abundant Prosperity
www.AbundantProsperity.org