God Is Good… Even When the Plumbing Isn’t

God is good… even when the plumbing isn’t.

We were reminded of that truth on a rainy Saturday when a mysterious drip from the ceiling turned into a full-blown homeowner’s nightmare. At first, we blamed the weather. I mean, what are the odds a hidden pipe leak would choose the exact moment of a downpour to make its debut? Apparently… 100%.

After confirming the roof had a solid alibi, Jay pursued his hot-water-line hunch. Sure enough, about thirty minutes after shutting off the hot water, the drip stopped. The good news? We still had flushing toilets. The bad? Cold showers until further notice.

Help is on the Way

On Sunday, our favorite contractor rode in on his white horse—okay, fine, a white pickup truck—to help Jay open up the drywall in the closet behind the upstairs bathroom. When we thanked Brennan for working on the Sabbath, he smiled and said, “I think given the circumstances, Jesus approves.”

With the leak located but not yet repaired, the hot water remained on lockdown.

Day two: still no showers.

Monday morning, the cavalry arrived in the form of water restoration technicians and a plumber. In a county where the unofficial motto is “No hurry in Curry,” this felt nothing short of miraculous.

The “Home Invasion” Phase

The home invasion lasted two days—and to be clear, it was the situation, not the technicians, that created the captive vibe. Plastic sheeting sealed off sections of the house, giving everything a Contagion-like ambiance. The smell of wet wood and insulation lingered in the air. Boots thudded overhead. Cabinets came off walls. Floors were ripped up. Drywall was cut away. Industrial fans and air purifiers roared nonstop.

Our senses—and emotions—were on overload.

Once everything was opened up to dry, a friendly tech stopped by daily for weeks to check the fans’ progress.

And let me assure you—we held it together beautifully in front of the restoration team… and saved our unraveling for the people we love most.

I think we do that because we feel safe with them. Even at our worst, their love doesn’t disappear. That doesn’t make it right—it just explains it a little. We’re working on it.

When One Leak Becomes Three

As if one leak weren’t enough, this marked the third pinhole leak in the seven months we’ve owned the house. Thankfully, the first two were in the crawl space and caused no damage. This time, we decided no more rolling the dice and opted to replace the copper plumbing with PEX. With the walls already open, it was the right moment.

That decision, however, brought us back to the master bathroom.

It’s been begging for a full renovation since before we moved in. We had planned to tackle it… until Jay’s Mantle Cell Lymphoma diagnosis shifted everything. Suddenly, remodeling dropped to the bottom of the list while we focused on navigating our new normal.

Now, thanks to a tiny leak, the remodel is back on the table.

The challenge? We can’t take a second bathroom out of commission while the first one is still down. So for now, we’re asking those aging copper pipes to hold the line just a little longer. Prayers appreciated.

What Matters Most

As the chaos settled and progress became visible, we made a conscious choice: focus on what’s good, not what’s hard.

Yes, sharing a bath-and-a-half between three adults and a toddler requires scheduling, patience, and a healthy dose of grace. But I survived the first eighteen years of my life in a family of six with one bathroom. This is temporary.

Our home will be repaired—better than before. The noise will fade. The inconvenience will pass.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:8 NIV

We are blessed with health.

Yes, even with Mantle Cell Lymphoma present, Jay is healthy today. And we refuse to let fear of the future steal the joy of this moment.

We have a plan. Through diet and exercise, Jay is strengthening his immune system to Navy SEAL levels. We’re monitoring things closely. And if those indolent (sleeping) MCL cells ever decide to wake up, they’ll be met by a fully equipped team—both medical and biological—ready for battle.

That doesn’t mean I don’t have hard moments. I do. I’m human.

But when I start to spiral, God gently pulls me back—reminding me where to fix my eyes.

On what matters.

God is good… even when life is hard.

If you’re carrying something heavy right now, I pray you’ll turn to Him and allow Him to help you see your blessings—even in the middle of the mess.

If this encouraged you, feel free to share it with someone who could use a little comfort or hope today.

Blessings,

Angela

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Angela L. Gold is an encourager who shares the love of Christ in her writing. She is the author of The Lion Within and Kill Shot.