Back in January of 1998, almost 12 years ago now, when my husband and I first got married, I remember how excited we were to be getting our own place together. Well, about a month before the wedding, we went apartment hunting out in the suburbs. We wanted a luxury apartment with at least 2 bedrooms. So, with that criteria in mind, we set out on our search. We were quite pleased with ourselves when we found something we really liked relatively quickly.
We filled out the application and got approved. When I tell you we were beside ourselves with joy, I really mean it. Kenya and I were just giddy about the whole thing. But, what we didn't recognize is that, we had overlooked one small detail. The rent was waaaay too high for us to handle!
In our youthful zeal and immaturity, we didn't understand something fundamental which is, when you have decent credit, getting approved for something isn't that hard. But there's a huge difference between getting something and being able to keep it. Have I got a witness?
We hadn't counted up the cost. Consequently, as the months wore on, we were always playing catch up, trying to find ways to foot the bill.
Stay with me... I'm going somewhere with this.
He would pick up extra hours at work. I'd work seasonal jobs at department stores and go to school full time. I remember working at Kaufmann's in Buffalo (now Macy's) as a Sales Associate to help us get caught up on some bills. I liked my job, but I would get restless pretty fast. The desire to resume life as normal would rapidly overpower my fondness of my part-time gig.
Thus, a cycle ensued. Whenever we got caught up on the bills, I'd quit my job. As a result, we'd end up right back in the same predicament. Around and around in circles we went. For some reason, I didn't recognize the correlation, so we continued to struggle financially because I wouldn't keep my job. I was blinded to the fact that I needed to stay on my job, or downgrade our living situation, so we could afford to live off of one salary.
Now, here's my point.
Sometimes, we get restless with things, people and situations God is using to help us. But when we get antsy, we cut off those things we need to remain connected to, in order to make our lives easier. When we miss this fundamental truth, we end up breaking ties and suffering as a result of it.
We become serial quitters, perpetual starters and stoppers, which causes us to spin our wheels and yet, make no progress. Trust me, I know how frustrating it can be.
But, before you can break a cycle like that, you have to first see that pattern in your life. You have to honestly ask yourself, "Am I a serial quitter? Do I give up on things too quickly? Do I just throw my hands up and move on, without first consulting my Heavenly Father about which path and direction I should take?"
I wonder; are you quitting when you need to stick it out? Are you disconnecting from things God wants you to be connected to? Are you restless with the situation God has placed you in for such a time as this? Have you convinced yourself that it's time to move on from a specific place in your life, when in reality, God has you there for a reason? Are you abandoning your "Kaufmann's" prematurely, when it's the very place you need to be right now?
To be clear, this post is not about getting and/or keeping a job, although that might be what someone needs to take away from it. Rather, it's designed to encourage you to dig deep and pull out some of that stick-to-it-iveness in the specific area that applies to you. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom, career woman, entrepreneur, 0r
ministry worker, know that, as long as you're in God's divine will, you're right where you need to be. Don't
get restless. Decide, instead, to rest. The Bible says, "Rest in the LORD,
and wait patiently for Him..." (Psalm 37:7a).
Again, don't get restless. God has a plan for your life. You won't always remain in the place where you are today, but for now, give God thanks for where you are and trust Him to move you when the time is right.
You never know why God has you where you are, but know this: Whenever the Lord places you in a certain position, He has you on a special mission. Your placement is NOT without purpose. Even when you can't see it, you have to trust God's plan and His timing.
Whatever your station is in life at this moment, rejoice in it, because the Lord is with you, sustaining you; directing you; favoring you; developing you; strengthening you; maturing you and positioning you, through it all!
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
