Provision through unusual means

With unemployment benefits ending, my blood pressure and anxiety have been on the rise lately. And while the COVID stimulus offering saved my bacon and I am HUGELY grateful for having that (especially considering I was offered no severance from my previous employer), I am still quite anxious about that lifeline ending and still having no luck securing full time employment. I've had a few second and third interviews, just enough to get excited about the potential of a position, but nothing has panned out [yet]. It is in this immediate season that once again God has spoken to me in a way I wouldn't have imagined.

Have I ever told you about my friend Joe? Joe and I used to work together and although we were in different departments, when we did cross paths the interaction was always a positive one. Joe lives in Seattle but over the course of his numerous travels to the home office in Nashville we got to know each other fairly well. We share similar experiences of the pain of divorce, the challenges of raising your children with intention and love despite all our flaws, and the desire to be part of something bigger (maybe even 'known'?). While he and I share different political and religious viewpoints, being 100% aligned in life isn't what makes us friends (nor does it drive us apart). What unites us and maintains our friendship is a genuine love for connecting with people, our consistent respect for one another despite differences, a constant desire to learn and grow, and the unyielding passion to serve others well.

So now that you have been introduced to Joe, allow me to continue my story. While visiting my sister and brother-in-law last week, I received a surprise call from Joe. I had connected with Joe earlier this spring to let him know of me and my team's job situation, so he knew I was needing employment. His company recently secured a few large contracts from some clients and one in particular needed assistance in a way he knew I could deliver. We were honest with each other about what the position involved, his company's position, what I was currently working toward, and where we could help each other. And just like that, after an hour on the phone and a few emails, I am now launched into the world of self-employment and once again feeling like a productive member of society.

When I spoke to Joe was it hard to tell him I had been laid off? Yes, even if millions of people were in the same boat. My career has been a source of pride for me, so to be without one was humbling at best. The shame of not being able to provide for my family was present every day. My vulnerability with Joe to let him know that I was in a position of need was not only crucial for me personally; but would also be how God chose to move my story forward, even if I didn't realize it at the time.

Letting go of my pride resulted in not only personal growth, but a new opportunity that I wouldn't have had otherwise. I have to laugh now as I am now preparing to advise a team who ranked #1 Entrepreneur on the Fortune 500 Franchise this year! It's not a permanent position, but God is meeting my needs today. He has answered my prayers - it was just in a different way than I would selected for myself.

Using our weakness and vulnerability toward our benefit is something only God can do. So what is the correct posture to approach this turn of events? For me, it is in reflection and awe of how God works. His perfect timing (despite my insistence that He isn't moving fast enough) and whom He chooses to use are a reminder of how I am not forgotten. I am known, my needs are known, and summoning the courage to be vulnerable doesn't go unnoticed. So I will embrace this opportunity to serve alongside Joe and look for personal opportunities to tell a greater story in the process.