“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
– Hebrews 11:1

I waited… and waited…losing faith… ‘and suddenly’. A car and a job: This is the life that God built!

Walking into new seasons like…- A journal entry

The Dr. said <1%… but, God…

‘As iron sharpens iron…’ When God suddenly brings a former friend back into your life

I tried writing about how the last few weeks of my life have been. I tried writing the ending of one job to the other’s transition. I tried writing what my days have looked like.

I can not find words for everything pales compared to just standing in awe of what God has done.

Starting a sentence with “you don’t understand” would not make sense either in a Christian setting either. You may not walk in MY size seven-and-a-half, but sometimes size eight shoes, but you probably have worn something similar. Maybe I borrowed the shoes, and yours are all tattered and worn because of the miles you have walked them and can tell me where each scuff came from. You could probably tell me, “Oh, that’s when I fell doing such and such” and finish the story with how God picked you back up.

One season. One LONG, dark, “WHAT IS HAPPENING” season just ended most miraculously for me that I don’t even want to talk about anything else.

One day I was at my other job in which I had been stressed and begging God to tell me what to do with my life, and within forty-eight hours, He picked me up and planted me in another job.

I think our prayers are a reflection of where we are with Him. I know that’s the most obvious statement, but my heart cries over the years have dramatically changed. Are you like this, too? Are you afraid of talking to God sometimes? Are you afraid that what you’re asking seems too minor?

I’ve learned He WANTS US TO ASK. Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you. ALL OF THEM. Not one of them is too little for Him, and I’ve learned the simplest ones are usually the most profound with jaw-dropping results. When I am looking and asking for something significant over here when my “tiny” passing thought is where water is changed into wine. Where else would we go?

For example, the two most recent greatest miracles to happen to me were when I cried out in despair. It was not a reverent “I want your will for my life”. These were when I was losing hope, and my prayers became, “God, where are you?! Why have you forgotten me? I can’t do this anymore. I can’t go anymore. Please! Help me! TELL ME WHAT TO DO. WHAT IS GOING ON?? Maybe I heard You wrong? Maybe I wasn’t supposed to be here? Maybe You told me to do XYZ. I thought this was the plan, and nothing is making sense? I’m not doing it anymore!”

When I get like that is the best time to read Job. When he got tired and finally cried out, what was God’s response?
“Were you there when I laid the foundations of the earth?”

What do you say to that? How could Job have responded except standing there taken back in reverent fear and trembling?

The two most recent and memorable times were when I felt utterly forgotten and had nothing to lose anymore.

“And suddenly”

He brought me to the Red Sea even though I complained in the wandering, asking, “WHAT IS GOING ON. THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE OR LOOK RIGHT. COME ON?!”

While I was paying attention to the circumstances over here, I didn’t see Pharoah coming up behind me.
“Maybe I didn’t hear you right? Maybe I should have gone another way?”

“And suddenly”

The water started stirring, and I started getting scared going, “HEY! Why did you bring me here?”

“And suddenly”

The sea split in two and the water rose on each side. At first, I thought, “You want me to walk through THAT?? You crazy!”

He guided me right through, and not one wave crashed on me though there were walls of water on each side. All I could do was look up and trust Him for when had He steered me wrong before?

“And suddenly”

I walked all the way through and made it to the other side safely when suddenly I saw Pharoah in the distance. But, God washed them away. He brought me through safely before the danger ever touched me.

He went before me, walked beside me, and saw behind me.

He already knew His plan long before I ever started the walk to the Red Sea.

All of this to say, leaving my job of seven years was hard. My last day was last Wednesday, and it was bittersweet. My boss bought me a King Cake, a coworker bought me ANOTHER King Cake, and my uncle dropped off glazed beignets. There were lots of big hugs, and that was the end.

Thursday and Friday, I ran errands, worked in my garden, and serial texted my “former” coworkers because I refuse to let go. I panicked that I would lose them, but if God put them in my life, some will stay and some will go. They became my family, and when you work so closely with people, goodbyes are hard.

This past Monday was the first day of my brand new job. Even though I got nervous did not get overwhelmed because I KNOW GOD gave me that position. It’s hard to be scared when you know that you know that you know God put you somewhere. If He put you somewhere, He has a purpose and has not forgotten it.

You know what? I love my new job. I’m taking it one day at a time and not overanalyzing anything (which is strange for me… ha!), but so far, I’m enjoying it. I’ve gotten many hugs and love all of the kids already.

I posted this picture on Facebook, and many people told me (and have told me before) this was the perfect job for me, and they knew it all along. I’ve never considered teaching and could never see myself doing it. Everyone’s encouragement was shocking to me, but I am so grateful. It made me cry knowing God has not forgotten me. I am grateful for all the opportunities in jobs, great and small, for the smallest seed could bring the most incredible fruit. I pray for God to keep guiding me and using me for His purpose. I pray to bear fruit wherever He places me, and I pray through all of my heart cries and prayers in this little blog that God uses this as well. This blog is for me, but I hope it’s being used for good. I don’t get many views on this site, and that’s OK WITH ME because it’s just a journal between God and me, but I shared my new job post on Facebook, and it got almost more views than all of them combined (ha!). I hope God used it. It shows life is not perfect and there will be great times and dark times, but MY GOD is the same through them all. Each season has set me up and taught me things I’ll need for the next. Like exercising, you have to start with the smaller weights before lifting the heavier ones or risk getting injured. We grow from glory to glory, and He get it all.

We will cast our crowns at His feet. It’s not our work, but His.

Last Saturday, my friend texted that it was 100 days of school and we were to dress up as old ladies and old men. My response was, “My first day of work I have to show up like an old lady?”

Glad I cleared that up. It was yesterday (Friday).

I don’t have words, honestly. He is so faithful and good. He hasn’t forgotten us and how could He? He loves us and knows every hair on our head.

This post became deeper than originally intended, but do not give up. Keep running the race set before you and striving for the prize that is Jesus. Don’t stop and look around. Keep running. When you get tired it’s ok to crawl or rest a minute, but you get back up and keep running.