Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
They are the stories we never grow tired of hearing. The stories of deliverance and victory out of a time of trouble. I’ve hesitated sharing my latest story. But I fear that if I don’t tell it, I’ll be denying God the glory and a friend in the faith will be denied hope that their struggle will be worth the wait.
My struggle began almost a year ago when facing an uncertain future and unemployment I let faith in God over power what Satan would have loved to have been defeat. I began looking for the plan; I knew God had one. I will not tell you there were not some dark days, but they were few; and not of anything of my own accord. I began that journey in gratitude that God had delivered me first out of terrible place.
If you’re in a hard place you have to look for a way out. It’s not always swift and sometimes the way out of one hard spot is by way of another. Well… that’s not very good news is it? Hold on!!! Let me tell you the rest of my story…
Unemployment for a year was another hard spot, but I fully believed and trusted in God that it was a part of the plan. Education has never come easy for me. I’m not a “structured thinking” kind of gal. Lectures won’t cut it, and reading had better be interesting! I need hands on life lessons and in April of 2012 I was about to get a year’s worth.
Lesson 1: Trust God
I cannot tell you how many times I would lay down at night and Satan would begin buffeting my mind… “You’ve done this to yourself, You’re a failure, You’re about to lose it all…” And I would pray, saying “Peace, be still.” And just as Christ calmed the waves in Mark 4:39; and there was a great calm, there was one in me! And I would drift off to sleep. Sweet!
Lesson 2: Serve God
When Isaiah 40:31 says “They that wait” it does not mean “they that sit idle”, it means waiting as in a server would wait on a table. So rather than looking at myself as unemployed I began looking at myself as “unencumbered!” Hallelujah, now I have time to serve! It was all a part of the plan.
Lesson 3: Hear God
“The Lord shall renew their strength.” Renewed strength came from the Word of God. I could have slept in, but if I truly believed this was a time of unencumbered-ment it was meant to be a time of preparation for the next part of the journey. So I continued getting up at 4:30 a.m. and studied the Word of God to renew my strength, to restore it to the days when I felt my life had purpose. (Remember, I said there were dark days when I felt no purpose for Christ) And day after day my heart would leap for joy when I would discover the plan.
Lesson 4: Believe God
Belief shows action. I had to put legs on those prayers and plans. Isaiah said “They shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Days of discouragement came, some days I would run from something, other days I would run to something. When I walked it was a time of reflection, to slow down and see what God would have me learn in that place.
I practiced those lessons for one year. I don’t know if you understand how unemployment works, but they only allow about a year of it, and mine was coming to a close. So I said to myself, “Lesson 1 Shari, Trust God.” It was sometimes weak, but it was there. God said if I had a mustard seed of faith (Matthew 17:20). And I am pretty sure mine was the smallest of the mustard seeds, BUT IT WAS THERE!!! God is never late, but this time, His right on time was right down to the wire. On Monday morning I filed my last unemployment claim at 6 a.m. – At 10 a.m. I had a job interview! Insert big cheesy grin here.
If you are in the battle, have faith, keep serving, listen for His guidance, believe it and tell yourself and everyone you do… and then wait for it! It will be worth it all Amen!!!