Most, if not all, of you have heard the scripture read from Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you a hope and a future.” 

We generally recite this scripture when we have a particular goal in mind, or our eyes are set on things, places, or opportunities that we’ve been preparing to embark upon and praying that God will bless us accordingly because he’s supposed to prosper us.  But this year it really hit home that, I have misapplied this scripture.  

I received a prophetic word on Dec 30, 2018.  It stated that I was going to be more peaceful and have rest the more I worshipped in 2019.  God wanted me to rest so I could do his work.  God was going to reorient me to a lot of things and rewire my way of thinking. God was leveraging me for 2020 but my problem is that I can get ahead of God. He also gave me an EXIT sign and told me to start putting fillers out to see where my next assignment was.  (Keep this prophesy in mind as you continue to read)

In total transparency, this was a difficult year for me, especially the second half of the year beginning in July.  I had no idea I was going to experience the type of test I went through.  It mainly stemmed around my job.  I worked with this particular company for 7 years.  I took this job as a steppingstone.  After 3 years with the company, I tried to find other job opportunities, but nothing panned out in my favor, or so I thought.  

I continued to work with diligence and integrity, not for the company but for the kids and families I served.  As a result, I climbed the ladder of leadership.  In my dual roles, it required a lot of travel.  I was away from home at least 3 out of the 4 weeks of the month.  Then there was a major shift within the company that had a direct impact on me. Leadership changed and so did the overall culture and climate of the organization. 

My hope was that I was going to be long gone before I witnessed the breakdown that I received glimpses of throughout the years, but I wasn’t.  I was smack dab in the midst, and I tried hard to escape to no avail.  My stress levels reached an all-time high. I was so unhappy, unsatisfied, unfulfilled, irritated, that it impacted me mentally and emotionally.  I experienced levels of anxiety I never experienced before, it scared me.  I found myself in the deepest valley of my life and I couldn’t get myself out of it. I felt like I was losing hope within my situation.  BUT GOD! 

Because I am surrounded by a village of believers (special thanks to my husband and my dad).  I was reminded to worship in the midst of it all. Praise Him when I didn’t feel like it. Praise Him for his promises. Praise Him because he knows the plans HE has for me. Praise Him that through his word he was going to give me HOPE. Praise Him because I wasn’t without a job.  Praise Him because my faith was being refined.  Praise Him because he was preparing me for my next assignment. Praise Him that he was with me in the valley.  Praise Him for loving me so that he never let me go.  Praise Him for the TESTimony to share with someone else that may be going through.  PRAISE HIM! 

So, I did. Each and every day.  

I was sent a job announcement in October, that I wasn’t aware of nor did I look for it.  I applied and after I sent in my resume, my exact prayer was “Your will Father.” Kareem and I went on a cruise in October, the day after I applied for that position. The cruise was intended for both of us to connect, to dream, to pray, and to expectantly hear from God. We received answered prayers. Kareem and I came into agreement with what we received.

This was the turning point in my season.  

A couple weeks after my trip, I received a phone call to interview for the position I applied for.  First interview was solid.  I was excited and encouraged.  I received a second interview and I had to prepare a presentation.  What was only supposed to be a 20-minute interview turned into an hour. I was exhausted and left feeling unsure about how it was going to turn out, but I left it all on the table.  The next day, I received a phone call from HR offering me the position.  I was filled with so much gratitude and all I could do was praise God.  It was not by my might but by his spirit.  

God is faithful! 

My takeaways in this season of my life are:

  • Going through a challenging season gives an opportunity for God to improve your faith
  • Call upon the Lord to renew your strength
  • Believe that God’s purposes are right, and he is in control of your life
  • God will always give what is right to his people
  • If you have to work at it, you are not in the spirit of God- you have to let it happen
  • You will suffer during your earthly residence, but we are blessed through the work of the Holy Spirit

Love you to life family!