A message in every lesson.

I find my self giving more advice these days.
I appreciate the people who trust me enough to share their most vulnerable moments and ask for encouragement, prayer and/or advice.
I received a message from a gentleman who told me he was feeling discouraged because his career was stagnant, he was having no luck with dating and school wasn’t going as planned for him. My advice to him was advice I needed a year ago during this time.

I’m sure the plans we have for ourselves make God laugh. The things we desire for ourselves are so small compared to the things that God has in store for us. I am a living testimony of this. Some of the things my heart desired I never received, however, what I did receive was greater than my desires each time.It’s hard to keep this attitude when you can get on IG and see people obtaining things you are working towards- the promotions, houses, relationships, proposals and vacations you feel you deserve.

About a year ago, I found myself unhappy at work. I wanted more money, more of an opportunity to display my skills, more challenging work and just more for my self. I’m one of those people who is never satisfied and I’m always pushing myself to get more. When I found myself in this phase of my life I began trying to make moves without trusting in God. At this time I had been with my company for 3 years. I prayed every day for a new job opportunity( either with my company or another company) that allowed me more of the things I desired. Eventually I started to feel like God was overlooking me and my many prayers literally begging him to change my situation. So I took it upon my self to make it happen and failed miserably. I asked for a transfer from my job to our location in TN but the salary would be a drastic change due to the cost of living. I applied for job after job, there were interviews, no call backs, the pay wasn’t competitive or the jobs just weren’t a true fit for me. I even interviewed for jobs in NC because I was being impulsive and wanted an immediate change. I began to pray more and the more I prayed the more I heard God tell me to be still. “Be still and trust in me” and that’s exactly what I did.

I stopped searching for outside opportunities and continued to put my best foot forward in the position I did have. Within 3 months, a new position with my company opened up, one that I was qualified for. I even cried in the interview because it was something I was so passionate about and I prayed for this. The job came with more than I could have imagined: much more money, more responsibility, a company car/ cell phone and the opportunity to learn another division of our business. It’s also the very first & only position in my entire company, a company of over 10,000 employees and I’m the only one to ever hold this title. I prepared for the interview and eventually got offered the job.

After accepting the offer I went to my car and cried. I cried because all this time I thought I was being over looked when really I was just being prepared. I was trying to make changes to satisfy my immediate desires not knowing I was in this season of glumness because I was being prepped for the next level.

My advice to those who feel they are being over looked is don’t be discouraged when things aren’t going as planned - be encouraged for greater things are coming to you.

 Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.