Does it feel like you have to fight to get ahead anywhere in life? Does it seem that success comes easily for others but never for you? I’ve been there many times, my friend. Recently I was reminded of a particular situation and the lesson God taught me in that season.
When God called us to move for a church opportunity, we knew that to make it work, either my husband and I would need to find a job to start right after the move. I accepted a temporary position at a local hospital. As the end date for this position loomed, I began applying for positions that interested me. When I received no nibble, I sent applications for any open posting even if I didn’t really want it. No calls. No expressions of interest. Crickets.
Maybe there was a technical glitch and my applications were not getting through! Yes, that must be it! After inquiring with HR I found out that I had been disqualified from the almost 20 positions I applied for, due to a union stipulation that I knew nothing about. Disappointing is the word I used in an email, when actually I was devastated and feeling quite hopeless. Later that day, God revived a glimmer of hope in another email with a “would you be interested?” line. Of course I was! Now to wait and keep praying.
On the weekend I was asked by a coworker to cover her shift. After agreeing, I learned I would be training the person who got the job I had to leave. Hmm. Well, I had given my word so, off I went.
It was a horrible shift. In a mostly one-sided conversation, this coworker shared all the details of her life and family. Okay – you’re guessing not much training was going on. No worries, she was confident she knew everything. She proceeded to tell me that this new job didn’t provide enough shifts, so it would be helpful to her when I was gone. She didn’t care if I had a job or not, nor did she know I that was immensely satisfied and challenged in the job. Pity my poor husband when I got home to share all of this in the very late evening hours.
I awoke at about 3 a.m. with a song in my head. Not just softly weaving through my dreams but pounding and blaring one section of the song over and over. It woke me, and hard as I tried to stop it and get back to sleep, it roared in my mind. It was a section of the Jeremy Camp song, “Out of My Hands”. Over and over I heard, “Out of my hands and into Yours”. Sleep was gone so I got up, made coffee, read, prayed and journaled.
I headed to work that morning to my other job, about a 30 minute commute. On the way home I began thinking about the night and wondering if that was God communicating with me, or if I had just heard that song so many times on the radio. As I turned onto the ramp to the highway I prayed and asked God to show me if it was Him or just my racing brain. As soon as the current song on the radio ended, guess what song began to play? Yup. Out of my Hands. I listened intently to the entire song, holding back tears. God was urging me not to fight back or get defensive but let the whole situation run through my fingers like sand. Those who were working seemingly against me were lost souls, deceived by our enemy into selfish motives and it was only the enemy that was making it personal. My husband and I came to plant a church and the hordes of hell were not pleased in the least. But now I was settled. I was letting it go and would just go on enjoying my job until God brought the next opportunity along.
The very next day on that same commute I got a phone call. I was sort of expecting a friend to call, and I didn’t look at the number on the dash screen as I was driving that same stretch of highway. It was a department manager at the hospital saying she had heard that I might be interested in an open position she had. We chatted about it for a few minutes and then I was offered the job! The best thing – the department was closed on Sundays! No interference with church! Hard to find in healthcare. Besides being astounded to have a job interview while driving home, I was shocked to receive the offer immediately.
Yes, the person who was trying to undermine me got her wish. But that doesn’t matter. God in a “suddenly” that He is so famous for, brought me to a new and better opportunity that I had not actively pursued. My hands were empty of the caring of the problem and He filled them with the solution. I was open to letting God take care of me.
The Bible tells us that we battle not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). My battle was not with management, coworkers or unions. These are people with cares, battles and agendas of their own. Sometimes their own worst enemy. But when I stand close to God, leaving myself open to Him and His Word – miracles happen.
What are you battling? Is it unemployment, lack of finances, health concerns, a disconnect with a spouse or family member, a rebellious child? Sometimes just adulting is a battle we feel we can’t win. Do what you can, but most of all confide in and trust God to bring you His best resolution. Your battle is safe in the hands of the One who never loses. Just be open to the One who cares for you best.
Want to know the song that encouraged me to trust God with my battle? Listen here:
Seasons with Grace 
Thank you so much for that. It Encouraged me as I sat here this morning with my coffee. I am living with a child who has not moved out yet but possibly in the spring and I feel that spiritual battle on a regular basis and I do remind myself, we wrestle not against flesh and blood. I try to remember that and just love this child unconditionally.
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