Trials and Tribulations

James 1: 2-4
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

It is with pure joy this evening that I write about the end of a long trial in my life.

My wonderful husband was downsized from his company almost sixteen months ago. It has been a long, difficult road of uncertainty, questions, waiting, wondering and hoping that has finally come to a wonderful conclusion. This afternoon, Blake was finally offered and accepted a position with a new company and will begin his tenure with them toward the end of this month. God has shown us many wonderful things along this path. He has deepened our faith and our dependence on Him. He has met our needs in countless ways and we have seen many miracles along the way. It would be impossible to describe everything that He has done for us over the last year and a half. It has not all felt good. We have realized that God has used this time to smooth out some of the rough edges in our lives. We have learned that pride has been an issue that we have had to come to terms with. We have learned that we cannot go it alone and it is okay to have to depend on others and seek help from them. We have learned that we tend to be judgmental at times of people who have found themselves down on their luck thinking that we are somehow better than them, but no more.

Bad things happen to good people. Sometimes they have some control over it, but often times that is not the case. My husband has worked harder over the last year and a half then he has in a long time trying to find a job to no avail. He is a professional, but was not above working a minimum wage job; Target wouldn't talk to him. He tried to find entry level jobs but they wouldn't talk to him either. He had too much experience. Sometimes the mere will to work is not enough. We have had to put our pride aside and realize that we cannot do it all. Sometimes you have to rely on a power greater than yourself.

God has revealed to us over this time the true nature of His people. We have been blessed over and over again by the prayers, concern, encouragement and generosity of people He has put in our path. There are too many people to name in this space but they will forever hold a special place in my heart. We are excited about the future and what it holds. We are grateful for the vision we have been granted and cannot wait to be able to pay forward what we have received from countless others. I vow to never again forget who I belong to. I do not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. I vow from this point forward to live my life grateful for what I have been given and the opportunity to share that with others.

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD.
Jeremiah 17:7