Always Remember

On September, 17, 2013, I arrived at my job, and began my shift at a Call Center, unaware that in less than an hour I would receive the news that my 14 year career with the company would be coming to an end in two weeks, due to a reduction in workforce, initiated by our corporate office. Initially, I must admit that I was shocked to receive this news, just due to the fact that I’d always strove to honor God by being a model employee, however I remembered that the same God that had blessed me with this job, is the same God who would take care of me during this situation.

Friends within the call center offered to help me find another position within the company, however when I looked at the open positions, there just wasn’t one that I felt led to apply for. I had enough vacation time saved up where I could have stayed home for the final two weeks, however I had a few projects that I’d been working on, and didn’t want to dump them on someone else. The Holy Spirit inspired me to ensure that I exemplified the character of Christ for the remainder of my time with the company. Many people knew that I was a Christian, and I felt that my testimony would be disgraced if I adopted a bitter attitude at this point, and so I continued to work my shift faithfully each day, until it was time to clock out for the final time. Friends, within the center, still tell me to this day, that my handling of the situation in a Christlike manner still inspires them to this day.

I sought God for my next move, and He led me to begin mentoring several young men in my community, along with starting this Blog. God has blessed me financially, and supplied my every need.

I shared all of this to say that life will deal us unexpected challenges, in which our faith will be tested, or where the devil will show up to tempt us by whispering words of fear and doubt into our spirit. It is at these times that we must remember that we serve the same God who showed Himself faithful to the heroes of the Word of God.

God tested Abraham. David endured his various trials: facing Goliath, Saul’s jealousy, David’s own sin of adultery and his attempt to cover it up. The Hebrew boys had to enter the fiery furnace. Daniel had to endure the lion’s den. Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, and endured fierce opposition from the religious leaders of that timeframe. The woman with the issue of blood endured her affliction for 12 years, but pressed her way through the crowd to Jesus. Paul had his thorn in the flesh. In each of these instances God was faithful to each person because of their faithfulness and obedience, and in David’s case his willingness to seek God’s forgiveness.

Perhaps, like me, you are facing a situation where your job is in jeopardy, at no fault of your own. Maybe you’ve received some disturbing news from the doctor. Maybe you are bedridden with an infirmity, that you’ve been praying about for a long time, and feelings of despair are starting to creep in. Maybe you’re facing persecution for your faith in Jesus Christ, by coworkers, classmates, or even family members. Perhaps, you maybe a person who is experiencing uncertainty about how our new President’s policies will impact your life.

When things happen to us in life, and we start to feel fear and doubt beginning to creep into our spirit, we must remember the trials and triumphs of those who came before us. We can also, draw from the memories of our own past trials/tribulations and how God kept us and brought us through. We may not always feel good in our bodies every day, however keeping our hearts focused on the fact that God loves us and has a purpose for our lives will keep our spirit strong. We also can not look to other people to validate us, because no one will ever know us better than our Creator, and when it is all said and done, it is He and He alone whom we will have to stand before to give an account for our life.

Our faith in the face of uncertainty can even inspire those around us to rely on God to aid them with their own trials/tribulations.

Here are a few encouraging scriptures, which I pray will fill your heart with hope and remind you of God’s unfailing love for each of us:

II Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Psalm 37:25
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

I John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.