There’s a Facebook status I’ve dreamed of typing for quite some time now. It goes something like this:
After five years, three months, 19 days and seven hours of unemployment (with grad school thrown in), Dave is finally, officially EMPLOYED!
Of course my FB friends will ask where, doing what, and I’ll reply with something like:
Research Associate, Harvard… We’re moving to Boston!!!! :)
or
Environmental Scientist, Honolulu (Hey, I can dream!)
If you had told me that come May, 2010, Dave would still be sitting here filling out job applications, I’d have slapped you with a frozen deer steak. But here we are. The journey is long and stained with tears of frustration and self pity.
I remember the night several weeks ago that I lay in bed next to Dave, on my stomach, hugging my pillow. I looked at him and declared, “It’s time to pray a new prayer. There are people watching us, watching our lives. They are watching our faith in a God Who promises to provide. Didn’t the Israelites use that as leverage in their petitions to Jehovah? ‘What will the heathens think of You if you forsake us’?” We prayed together with new boldness, motivated by the desire to bring glory to God.
Nothing happened.
Oh God did provide—many times and in surprising and mysterious ways. He has continued to supply our every need, as He promised (Philippians 4:19). We have yet to go hungry, unclothed, and unhoused. When we need a job is up to Him to decide. There are lessons to be learned in the meantime. One day, one of them occurred to me (and became a real Facebook status):
God wills to be glorified as much in poverty as in prosperity, in suffering as in bliss.
And so I rest my case. There is a joy to be found that defies circumstance, a peace that mocks uncertainty. I have found my living hope, my anchor of the soul. His name is Jesus. When the Heavens are finally opened and the blessings poured out, let it not be said that my countenance changed.
After five years, three months, 19 days and seven hours of unemployment (with grad school thrown in), Dave is finally, officially EMPLOYED!
Of course my FB friends will ask where, doing what, and I’ll reply with something like:
Research Associate, Harvard… We’re moving to Boston!!!! :)
or
Environmental Scientist, Honolulu (Hey, I can dream!)
If you had told me that come May, 2010, Dave would still be sitting here filling out job applications, I’d have slapped you with a frozen deer steak. But here we are. The journey is long and stained with tears of frustration and self pity.
I remember the night several weeks ago that I lay in bed next to Dave, on my stomach, hugging my pillow. I looked at him and declared, “It’s time to pray a new prayer. There are people watching us, watching our lives. They are watching our faith in a God Who promises to provide. Didn’t the Israelites use that as leverage in their petitions to Jehovah? ‘What will the heathens think of You if you forsake us’?” We prayed together with new boldness, motivated by the desire to bring glory to God.
Nothing happened.
Oh God did provide—many times and in surprising and mysterious ways. He has continued to supply our every need, as He promised (Philippians 4:19). We have yet to go hungry, unclothed, and unhoused. When we need a job is up to Him to decide. There are lessons to be learned in the meantime. One day, one of them occurred to me (and became a real Facebook status):
God wills to be glorified as much in poverty as in prosperity, in suffering as in bliss.
And so I rest my case. There is a joy to be found that defies circumstance, a peace that mocks uncertainty. I have found my living hope, my anchor of the soul. His name is Jesus. When the Heavens are finally opened and the blessings poured out, let it not be said that my countenance changed.
3 comments:
Amen and AMEN!! This has been our experience and prayer in the last many years as well. I identified with both posts (this one and Jobless). We have recently had many discussions in our home about how God often blesses with poverty. He also blesses with prosperity. The question is, like you so aptly put it, does my countenance change or my praise cease regardless of the season?
I too hope for you that your family is soon blessed with a job. In the meantime, Faith, I'm proud to be a friend of an amazing woman of God... even now and still. Thanks for that!
A wonderful testimony! Thank you for sharing and there are blessings in our struggles that other people who've not walked the road, they know not of.
Following up here after a separate comment to the original Jobless Post just now--
As this also has been a struggle for me for quite a while, I have been through the cycle of work, worry, confusion, and sometimes hopelessness that can happen; as well as the doubts of those around you, wondering if you couldn't do MORE, or if there is maybe something wrong with you...
But the Lord has provided, and will continue to do so, even if I don't deserve it at times, because of His nature, not mine.
I try to stay focused on that FACT, and am grateful for drawing closer to Him in these times, the state that the Bible clearly shows I am designed to be in: Leaning on Him, not me, or the outside world, or others.
I think maybe this could be happening to get our collective attentions, to draw us closer to Him, and one another through Him, not man's system or dictates or agenda. Imagine how close families and neighbors became during the Depression!
Too bad it takes such an act of discipline (and love) to get our human attention.
God bless all searching and hurting in these challenging times. Never forget:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
--Jeremiah 29:11
Post a Comment