Life Update & Prayer

Hey ya'll! I'm back again!

It has been a hot second since I last posted an update on my life. And if I'm being honest, I didn't share anything because it was a trying time and I wanted to unplug for a little bit to reflect and regroup. I was doing some work for a start-up company in town. It's a really awesome concept and I know it is bound to do some incredible things. However, I was just unhappy and unfulfilled while doing the work. I think a major part of my sadness was that I was still grieving the fact the my former temporary job from earlier on in the year was gone. I LOVED working in public policy so much and going to work made me excited, fulfilled, and I had learned so much. It was an amazing opportunity to network with talented professionals, get a bit outside my comfort zone, and I got to work with some of the coolest and most dedicated people I had ever met. And most importantly to me, I felt like I was actually helping people. I could interact with individuals and make sure they were heard and understood. I got to help make them happy and in doing so, I felt joyful about my work. Everything was really great, except for the fact that it was a temporary job and I needed to say goodbye and took the new job with the startup company. But something in me told me that I'd be back. Goodbye was actually "See you in a little bit."

During the time I was working at the startup company, I had three dreams about being back at my old job working. I would wake up and shake it off because I thought it was all wishful thinking. A few weeks ago, I got a phone call from the office manager from my old job and she told me a position had opened up and I was already in consideration. I was so giddy and told her that I was in and wanted to interview for it. I went through the interview process and was told I'd hear back within two weeks. I had the interview on Tuesday afternoon and flew to Chicago on Wednesday morning to spend Thanksgiving with my family. I landed in Chicago later that afternoon and was shopping around at Whole Foods. I checked my email and found out the job was mine and all I had to do now was accept the offer. So here we are now- A new position at the same office...just like I had dreamed about. This is the type of stuff that cannot be made up. God is too good. I keep asking myself "How did this happen?" And I keep coming back to the same answer "Because He is faithful." 

During the interview process for this new position, I had been pleading with God for this to work out. I was reminded of Hannah from the Old Testament in the Bible. She had begged God for a child and she told God that if He gave her a child, she would raise him to serve God and be faithful to Him. While I was certainly not begging for a child, I was begging for this exact job. I told God that I would serve Him in whatever way He wanted me to and be a light in the workplace and all the praise would go back to Him. I was so desperate for this job and God provided. My heart has been bursting with praise, wonder, and celebration so I sat down last night to write out a prayer to God and wanted to share it all with you. Maybe some of you are in the same boat as me- starting a new career or maybe you have been in your job for years and want to rededicate your work back to God. Either way, feel free to use and modify to fit your particular situation.

Father, You have blessed me abundantly more than all I could have ever asked or imagined. I know this job is one of your many blessings to me and I do not take it for granted. You have heard every single prayer that I have prayed and You have seen every tear that I have cried while waiting for this opportunity. You were always with me just as You are with me now and will be with me forever. Give me Your peace and discernment, Lord, as I bravely step into this new role. Calm any nerves or fears and give me a strong and courageous spirit to do the work You have given me to do.

Father, I ask that You will use me in whatever way You see fit to further Your kingdom. Let me be a beacon of hope and light that fills the entire atmosphere with a radiating aura of positivity, compassion, and love. Let my colleagues and those I interact with see You in me. May my words and actions be uplifting to all those who witness them and let them lead others to You. May I be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. When I interact with difficult people, help me to empathize with them instead of judging and criticizing them. Where it is easier to build walls, Lord, help me build bridges. Unity and love is always better than division and hatred. 

Father, I surrender everything to You and I'm laying it down at Your feet. Every victory will be Yours and every failure will be Yours. May I never forget how good You have been to me and that this job is a privilege not a right. May I be kind, generous, and passionate. And when I mess up (as I know I will do so many times), help me to be humble enough to admit my shortcomings, be quick to apologize, and then learn from my mistakes. Let me always remember that without You I am powerless. Success can only come from You not me.

We are in this together, Father. I am ready and excited to see what You have in store for me. Thank You for being my Savior, Friend, and King. I love You.

Amen.