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Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.
- Isaiah 25:9 NIV
As long as we've been married, my husband, Joe, has always worked two or three jobs. That's why it was such a shock to us when he got laid off from his full-time job a couple of years ago. The company which had employed him for 18 years was closing its doors, and even though he had a year's notice, when his last day of work finally came, he still didn't know what to do about his job situation. The following weeks of unemployment were extremely hard on my husband. He tried to keep busy doing tasks around our house, and he regularly contacted employment agencies, and searched for job openings in the newspaper and on the internet. Still, God gave no indication that He was opening a door of opportunity for my husband anytime soon, even though we were praying and standing on His Word. I really became concerned when Joe's anxiety over his joblessness began interfering with his sleep. In all our years of marriage, I had never known my husband to have a problem with sleeping. I tried to encourage and comfort my husband by telling him, "You could get a phone call at any moment that will radically change your whole situation!" And I meant it. I tried to get my husband to remain hopeful. I knew it was vital to his well-being. After six weeks of being jobless, Joe received a call from a major communications company, offering him almost twice the salary he was earning at his previous job. It would be a new field of work for him, and he knew the job might only be temporary, but he was pretty sure that it was God's will for him to accept it, so he did.
About one year later, my husband was laid off from his new job. Even though he knew the job was most likely only temporary, he had hoped the Lord would spare him from having to endure another period of joblessness. It didn't happen. Once again, Joe was without a steady full-time job, and he had no idea where he would find another one. But this time, things were different. Even though my husband would experience brief periods of restlessness, overall, he was sustained by an indescribable peace. Because he had experienced for himself the faithfulness of God the first time he lost his job, he was able to face this newest challenge with a Spirit-given confidence, peace and strength. The weeks of waiting went by more quickly this time, and the Lord made a way for Joe to find employment at an affiliate of his old company, where he would be doing the kind of work he had done in the past--work he felt the most confident doing. Though the salary was well below his temporary communications job, he was reinstated with all his original vacation time, health benefits and seniority--advantages that his previous job had lacked.
Because of these experiences, my husband gained a victory and an intimate knowledge of God's faithfulness that no one can take away from him. He discovered how we can wake up with a problem one day, and by the end of the day, be free from it. He also discovered how trusting God and remaining expectant can keep God's peace and joy flowing in our lives, making our periods of waiting more enjoyable and far less stressful. The Lord knows that we will be spending a good portion of our lives waiting on Him. Because of that, He has made a way for us to wait with peace and joy. But it's up to us to take hold of these gifts by placing our trust in Him and refusing to live in fear and doubt. If you are in a place of uncertainty right now, hoping for God's direction and deliverance, dare to put your trust in Him and to wait expectantly for Him to act on your behalf. Give Him the opportunity to prove to you that He is true to His Word which promises--"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him"! (Nahum 1:7 NIV)
Prayer: Lord, in times of trouble and uncertainty, help me to trust You with all my heart. When I'm tempted to doubt or become fearful, remind me of how these attitudes can rob me of peace and joy. Thank You that "None of those who have faith in God will ever be disgraced for trusting Him"! (Psalm 25:3 TLB)
- J. M. Farro
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