Initially, this was going to be a post about the horrid, dangerous conditions of a hotel in which we recently stayed. Instead, it will be a post about the wonderful nature of God and how he uses our trials to draw us closer to Him.
The website of the hotel was spectacular. You’d think, by the pictures and site descriptions, this was a 5-star resort located on the beaches of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, equipped with everything we needed for a weekend stay that would maximize our comfort and pleasure. It certainly was not.
As our plane arrived in Fort Lauderdale at 11:50 pm we were alerted there was an impending storm in the area that would prevent us from landing. So, our plane would be diverted to Orlando to re-fuel and wait out the storm. My eyes stretched as wide as they could as I looked over at my husband and son. What does that mean? Would we have to de-plane? Would we be stuck in the Orlando airport? How long would this inconvenience take?
I was concerned and tired. My compression socks were doing all they could to keep my legs comfortable during this ordeal but I could feel my ankles swelling and my anxiety rising. Krystal, this is no surprise to God, is what I said to myself. Then I sat back and finished watching Amsterdam, starring John David Washington and Christian Bale. After a 30 minute flight to Orlando and another 20-30 minutes of fueling the plane, we were back up in the air on our way to Fort Lauderdale.
We arrived around 1:15 am. We quickly hopped in an Uber as exhausted as we could be and were transported to our hotel. The second our car hit the parking lot I got an uneasy feeling in my stomach. This did not look like the hotels we usually stayed. Krystal, it will be better inside, I thought.
It wasn’t better inside. It was worse. The hotel lobby was dark and gloomy. It looked like a dirty storage room of a 1950s condemned hotel. I was too tired to think straight. I just took short, quick breaths and prayed our room would be better. As we walked onto the small elevator, down a rancid hallway, out onto a shaky bridge and back inside through a musty stair well, I held my breath. A woman who looked like a night worker yelled “It smells like piss on these stairs!” She held an unlit cigarette, wore a bonnet on her head, and a tank top and shorts that could pass as pajamas. I turned to ensure my 14 year old son was close behind me as the woman beat on the door to (I presume) her hotel room.
We got to our assigned room. By that time, I had lost all hope of the room being 5-Star, comfortable, or clean. We walked in and I was horrified. I wanted to cry. I was truly disgusted. But I didn’t want to make the situation worse by spouting my distaste. So, I settled in for the night. Being careful to only touch what was necessary. I prayed that God would protect my husband and son from any disease-causing germs. I prayed that we would remain safe and no one would barge into our room to hurt us. Then I tried to sleep. Dear God, please don’t let any bed bugs crawl in my ears or get stuck in my hair.
My family was visible upset. My husband was so angry I saw fumes coming from his head. But I tried to temper his mood by staying light hearted and jovial. It was difficult to sleep because I was afraid of the potential dangers in this hotel. But somehow we made it through about 3 hours of rest. I was awakened the next morning by my husbands cell phone light beaming in my face. He was scrolling, dialing numbers, and searching the internet. I didn’t say much because he was so focused on what he was doing. I dreaded taking a shower in the dirty bathroom. But, instead of worrying about the conditions of the bathroom I thanked God for keeping us safe throughout the night and waking us that morning.
My husband got up and stated he was going to get a rental car from the hotel. We landed too late the previous night to secure a rental. I was quite concerned about staying in the room alone with my son. But felt it was the best thing for me to do. I prayed to God while my husband was gone. Dear Lord, I do not want to stay in this hotel. Please let us switch to a better, cleaner, safer hotel today…. But if you want us to stay here Jesus, we will stay, and be thankful. This was my prayer. I thought about Jesus hanging on the cross praying to His father. His prayer was: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42.
Within an hour my husband was back in the hotel room with breakfast. He made an announcement to us “DO NOT UNPACK ANYTHING!” I buckled over in laughter. It was all I could do to express my relief that he was working on getting us out of that hotel. My son and I began putting on our shoes and gathering our things because I knew that God had heard my prayer. After speaking to the hotel management, Expedia.com, and Holiday Inn customer service, we were on our way to a better hotel, WITH a total refund for the two nights we didn’t use for the rat motel. And our new hotel was free of charge because we had a slew of points due to our Holiday Inn Club membership. God is good.
I tell you this long story to emphasize that I am fully aware this situation was a test from God. Often times when I pray, I ask God to use me…make me more like him…teach me how to be patient and loving. Well, my patients was tested this particular weekend in Florida. The test started with the 45 minute airport security line. Then, it was tested with the flight diversion to Orlando. Then, it was tested with our Uber driver who got “lost” at the airport while we waited in the rain. Next, it was tested with the horrid conditions of the hotel. And finally, it was tested when we awoke after three hours of sleep to a rain storm that would potentially ruin our weekend plans.
Thankfully, I remained patient and prayerful through it all. I blamed no one, had no ill feelings. I simply gave it all to God and let his will be done. And truthfully, I would have accepted it if He had us stay in that dirty hotel for the weekend. I’m so glad that wasn’t in his plan!
I’m positive that if my attitude was awful we would have been stuck there. Sometimes you have to pray and praise your way through situations to get your deliverance.
Praise God.