Matt and Heather Soper lived in their little oasis for quite some time. Residing just outside Aspen, Colorado, they had good jobs, a lovely home and a growing family. Their hearts were full and sights were set on the future. God was a huge part of their lives.

However, huge wasn’t enough. God wanted more of them, and as life began to seemingly spiral out of control, they had the opportunity to either struggle to manage it or go All In and trust Him.

At first they didn’t see God in the circumstances. From diminished wages to weeks where a check just didn’t come in, they were quickly losing the main source of their security. But they held on, hoping for the economy to stabilize and for life to get back to normal.

Normal wasn’t on the horizon however. Instead, they each received a layoff notice and any hope for a payday was lost. It was time to look for new work as well as a new home. They began the process of selling their home and returned to Michigan.

They were in a desert season. Hungry for change and thirsting for new opportunities, they wandered without much of a plan. They were trusting God to get them through, yet many times they felt frustrated. They were doing everything right and getting nowhere; working hard, going to church, raising a godly family and giving. That was probably the most difficult detail of it all.

Their giving to church — to God—began back in Colorado. Even though they had been struggling with bills, and even though it was hard enough to do what they were already doing, they made the commitment to tithe —and it changed them forever. For it was there that “trust” took on a whole new meaning and began to guide them more.

Remembering all of this in their struggle should have been comforting, but Matt and Heather still felt discouraged. Yes, they continued to be led by God, but it didn’t always come easy. Obedience was a choice they had to continually make.

Now, they both work in positions that allow them to exercise their passion and gifts and wouldn’t have been possible without their desert time. Their finances are under control and they are able to

give more naturally. Overall, they have completely reversed their mindset—instead of relying on money for security, they rely on God and use money as a tool to serve their purposes here on earth.

By pressing through the trials, they found it possible to trust God in completely new ways, and grow deeper in their marriage. They now embrace their desert season, knowing that though it was difficult, they would not have it any other way. They discovered there really is only one option… to be ALL IN.