This weekend we were studying from Genesis. And we got to chapter 24 and read “Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.” Paige was teaching and she encouraged us to make a list of the ways God had blessed us. Then, to pick one and share it.
Throughout the past few years, I have thought of many ways that the Lord has blessed me: In all the ways He delivered me from the pit of my bad choices. In the way He crossed my path with just the right people at just the right time. In the way He brought a group of prodigals together to create a place where I could feel at home. I have told the stories and thanked God for His infinite mercy.
But Saturday I thought of something that I really had not appreciated the way that I should have. And I chose to talk about it Saturday because it was probably the least emotional thing on my list..OR SO I THOUGHT! I started telling the story and when I started talking, the providence of God and His goodness struck me..and so I couldn’t tell the story without crying.
Way back when I was just a freshman in college, I needed a job. I had no work experience other than six weeks of receptionist work at a teeny tiny rural hospital. I applied a few places but had heard nothing. One day a long-time family friend called me up. He was working as a computer repair technician and had been on a service call to a small credit union. He found out they were needing a part time worker. He had called his sister first, but the hours were not compatible with her schedule so she passed on the job. So he called me. Now…let me just add…I had not talked to this friend for several years and he had no way to know that I was looking for a job. I don’t really know why he thought of me. This may be a part of the story I need to find out from him some day!
Anyhow, I went to interview, got the job, worked part-time through the rest of my college career and after 26 years, I am still working at that credit union! I’ve worked my way up from receptionist a bit though, I’ve been the manager for about 11 years now I guess.
I know that doesn’t sound all that impressive in the big scheme of things, but bear with me a little bit here. When I needed to get out of my marriage, I had to move my children and myself to a new house as the ex wanted to keep the house and land we had shared. So I had to qualify for a mortgage loan on my own with the chunk of debt I had agreed to take on (just so the divorce could be finished quicker…I was at the point where I would have gnawed off my own foot to get away). I was not worried about whether I could afford a house, because I have a fantastic job and I am paid pretty well for what I do. I was worried whether or not everything would happen when it needed to happen, but the financial side of it was far down on my worry list.
I guess some could say that is a nice little story and hard work and persistance paid off. That I reaped the rewards of my education and happened to be in the right place at the right time. That I was lucky. That it was very fortunate that I had a friend that referred me to a job that just happened to turn out well. Ahhh, but I don’t believe in luck, or good fortune. I know better. I know that my Father God has been at work all of my life. And it was God taking care of me by providing this job through a friend to the 19 year old version of myself.
The Lord has taken care of me…seen into my future…provided for my needs long before I knew I needed something. Could there be anything more amazing?? As God reveals His love to me, layer by layer, unfolding my life story before me…my love for Him just continues to grow…as does my amazement at His love.
Tell me a way that God has blessed you, if you can.
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