Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I'm back!! I want to apologize for yesterday. I'm not sure what was going on with Blogspot, but each time I tried to post the devotional something was going wrong.... no font or color choices, the post showing up in pure HTML form, etc., etc. I'm not computer savvy enough to know what was going on with the site. All I know is that today we are back in business.

I hope that your week is going well so far. Here in Oregon the sun is shining (although it's cold!) and it is beautiful outside. That in and of itself lifts my spirits and energizes my body!

Today is good!

-Becky


Trust and Obey

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. (Isaiah 26:3,4, NLT)

I have been searching for a job, for some kind of income, for several months. I have pursued different kinds of jobs, and have also been building up a Wedding & Event Planning business. I have dreams and plans and my "perfect vision" of exactly which jobs I would be happiest doing as I support my little family. At the same time, out of pure necessity and desperation, I have also been following up on jobs for which I am qualified but do not want to do. I have been doing this out of simple obedience to God, all the while praying and begging that none of those jobs will come to fruition. I'm willing to walk through whichever doors God opens, but inside I am pleading with God to keep those doors slammed shut and double-bolted.

It just so happens that I interviewed for one of those "less-than-desirable" social work jobs last week. It was a group interview and I have to admit that I was more than a little relieved to see that there were 25-30 very qualified people interviewing for that same lone position. I was sure that one of them would get the job and I would have nothing to worry about. I could have peace of mind knowing that I did my part to interview and that God did His part to keep the door closed.

I was caught off guard when the phone rang the next day and I was told that I was one of the finalists. I have my second interview this Friday. I have been filled with anxiety, scared that God will indeed open this door and have me walk through it, that I will be stuck in a job that I hate.

And then I was reminded of two things. God used one person to remind me that God is still in control, that I need to continue to obey and to trust that He knows exactly what He is doing. He will use everything to mold my character. And God used a second person to remind me that it is not all about me. If I am offered the job and God does ask me to walk through this door, perhaps it is not as much for my sake as it is for someone else's. Perhaps there is someone I will meet in my job who will need to see Jesus in me. Perhaps God will place me in a position simply because that is where He most needs to use me at that time.

I have no idea whether this door will open or close. It is still not my first choice (or even my second, third, or hundred and third choice); however, I now realize that my only job is to trust and obey. I need to be open to be used by God in whatever way He sees fit. He's not out to harm me, He's out to bless me.

So when you are tempted to worry and you feel anxiety coming on, remember the old hymn: "Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey."