Clay County Church Talk

Every day we make decisions. What clothes should I wear? Coffee or tea? White or wheat bread? Regular or premium gas? However, some decisions are life-altering and require much more time and attention.

As children of God, we have “an edge” when it comes to making important decisions. We can look back over our lives and see where God has been at work. We can see a pattern of His guidance and make decisions from there.

In the past, as I have found myself looking for a new job in a new town, I have often felt alone and ill-equipped. However, as they say, “hindsight is 20/20”. Now, years later, I can clearly see the hand of God in my options and decisions. Each job, big or small; each volunteer gig, short-term or long-term, has played an important part in who I am today. Each has been a piece in the puzzle of God’s work in me and my work for God.

Let me give an example. When we moved to a small town of 2,500 people in the hills of West Virginia, I found there were NO jobs to be had. Having been a secretary in previous years, I went to the big bank in town and asked if I could complete an application. I was told, “No.” I asked if I could leave my resume for their human resources department. I was laughed at and told, “We haven’t hired here in years. No one leaves their jobs.” They wouldn’t even take my resume. That was the trend and eventually I applied for a job cleaning hotel rooms. As the snotty lady at the bank had said, no one left their jobs so I couldn’t get a job anywhere.

At that time I was irritated at the situation, the people, the town and ultimately the state. NOW I know that it was God. He wasn’t against me – He just had a better plan for me. You see, a few months later I was offered a job by the volunteer Development Director for the local Christian school. She let me choose my hours, my wage and paid me privately, because she needed help. That’s where I began to write newspaper articles, ads for billboards, radio spots, brochures, all their correspondence and manage their database.

Without that opportunity I wouldn’t have been able to get several jobs that followed, as we moved to other states. Each job and volunteer appointment, as uncomfortable or insignificant as it may have seemed at the time, turned out to be a link in a chain that has led me to where I am today. Each helped me grow personally, professionally and even spiritually.

Whether you find yourself employed or unemployed at this time, think about what you are learning. Rehearse your past jobs and decisions, and try to see a pattern. Did your first volunteer post help build your self confidence and people skills that equipped you for job #1? Was there one small added responsibility in job #1 that cinched job #2? Did job #2 provide experience necessary to get job #3?

If you have God in your life, you can probably look back and see His guidance and direction. From today on, with each decision you face, pause, look back to see the work of God in your past and pray for HIS will to be done. If you forget about what you want, and concentrate on what God wants for you, you will begin to see His influence in your life and it will help you make positive decisions for your future.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34

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