He created me, so He is intimately familiar with my control-freak nature. And He is constantly testing me, stretching me, teaching me to let go and let Him.
This whole unemployment debacle is just the latest in my lifelong lesson of realizing that I am not in control, that I can do nothing without Him. I have prayed my guts out over the last two weeks. Hmmm. This might be something He’s interested in me doing more often, huh?
I’ve sent out resumes and applied for about 748 jobs, but not gotten one good bite from any of them. I had one emotional meltdown on Monday, but managed – with constant prayer – to pick myself up and keep on going. Doesn’t matter how many jobs I apply for. The only thing that matters is the one job offer.
A request for a letter of recommendation from one of my former employers resulted in a lunch meeting – purportedly to give me the letter. Halfway through our conversation - catching up on what’s been happening in our lives over the last ten years - I was offered the chance to return to work for them again.
I was expecting a “pity party” lunch. And I got a job offer. The job offer. Isn’t that just like Him? Above and beyond anything that we can ask or expect.
I felt immediate peace, but asked for 24 hours to think (and pray) about it. I laid a fleece before the Lord – because this decision was too important to make any mistake about. I awoke the next morning to the Answer.
So, my unscheduled “vacation” comes to an end as I return to work next week.
The really cool thing about this situation is: my former employers wanted me to come back to work for them. They weren’t actively seeking a new employee, but when they became aware of my sudden availability, they quickly sought to re-hire me.
It was all God.
That’s why there were no other bites on the resumes and applications. God was already working this out in the background while I rushed around, spinning my wheels, stressing out, fretting how to pay bills that haven’t even become due yet.
The day I was informed that my position was eliminated, I added a new verse to my scripture memory spiral notebook: “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” (John 13:7 NIV). Beth Moore quoted this scripture on her blog that night and – aha! - I realized this verse was for me right now. I committed it to memory and reminded God of His words frequently during our conversations over these last few days.
Don’t you think God gets a kick out of us reminding Him of what He said? At least He knows that we’ve been paying attention.
Thank Jehovah-Jirah, my Provider, that He has provided me a job – smack-dab in the middle of this economic mess – doing exactly what I love to do, working for some awesome people.
Thanks for all who offered up prayers on my behalf. We serve a God who hears, who sees, who cares … and who answers prayer and blesses His children.
He never ceases to amaze me.
I think He likes it that way.
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