Imagine losing your career—everything you’ve worked toward for thirty years. You are a few years away from retirement and have finally built up a 401k, savings and investments. Then HR meets with you and 62 other people one day and tells you to pack your office and go home.
Of course you worked in an industry that is failing across the nation and jobs are as scarce as a four leaf clover.
Then your family tells you they have not liked you for years and there is no support for you to move back home.
Church clergy and friends tell you that you must not have enough faith in God.
Your church family makes fun of your choice to return to college to get a new degree telling you that you are too old to join a fraternity.
Friends who once hung out with you won’t because you can’t afford the fancy restaurants and they don’t like Wendy’s.
Job rejections show up daily in the mailbox and email. You cry at night and struggle to rise each day.
You cash in your retirement accounts and shop the local thrift stores for bargains.
You cash in your CDs and pray for a miracle in the mail.
You decide you will go anywhere just to have work. Even Minnesota and you hate the cold.
Finally, it’s time. Choices are gone. You put the home you have loved up for sale without knowing where to go but you know you have to go somewhere. You are broke both financially and spiritually.
Then it happens. Four years to the day. A job. You have two weeks to pack up your home, drive across the country to a strange town and new state and try to start over.
God points the way to a new church.
The people are kind and friendly. They reach out.
But you have been hurt and rejected in the past years. How do you trust again and start over?
You just do. Because with all this loss, there was one loss we didn’t endure.
God’s faithfulness and love.
Is He there for you today?
43 comments:
I'm glad you guys made it...Bravo! I understand when people become distant, it hurts. All the best and may lots of goodluck come your way!
Wow, what trials you two have endured. God must see hidden strengths in you both that could be develop but only with forgiveness for all involved in the trials and faith/hope in God's power. Great blessings are in store...hugs!
He is faithful!
LOVE you, Terri. WOWzers.
Thank you for this reminder.
Amen Terri! Love that you posted this.
He is faithful...always. Rejoice!
One of the things I have learned from my many experience in wilderness living is that it takes time to uncover the lesson that are waiting from the time spent in the desert.
Recognizing that God's presence is always with us even during our darkest and most difficult times is so amazing.
It's good to be on the mountain top but the reality is that the real fruit in our lives is grown in the valley's we go through.....
I am so happy for you and your husband that you have come to a place of renewal and new beginnings. Being able to begin again is always a double edged process. But seeing the good fruit develop....well that's a very good thing!
Blessings
R
So happy your inner vocie led you to the place you are to be today. Waiting is the most difficult thing any of us has to do.
Hi Terri, I came over from Ann Best's blog. This is the hardest thing, isn't it, to trust in God's plan and to have faith during those hardest of times? I guess we only learn that we were being protected and loved later, when things work out so much better than we imagined. I've come to believe that yes, He is there every day, even when I can't see what's up or why. It sounds like you are in a phase of renewal and rebirth - ride with it :-)
When we are tested, we either rise to the challenge or drown.
Christ is the "rock" that, like you, I constantly embrace. In the end He will not fail me. And I have learned that even when I was going through the trials, He was always there. He just had to allow me time and space so my faith could be tested. And of course, I had to always keep trying to do my part.
Unlike you, though, I have never had anyone tell me that my trials, such as my daughters' accident, was because of my lack of faith. I never had friends or family turn their back on me. You have been through a lot, lady, and have come out on top. And God was with you ALL THE WAY.
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
Praying for lovely friendships in your new church and healing in the extended family. It's so hard to endure without the love and support of family and friends, but you are right; He's the one who sees us through...the only one who doesn't disappoint.
Praise God for your endurance and faith as a couple. It ends far worse for many in the same circumstances. You've been tested beyond belief and your marriage is a beautiful testimony of His love and faithfulness!
The most willing soul is often the most wounded one. I'm so sorry for all you've endured! I've watched you go through this, and said some prayers on the way. I'm so incredibly happy that things are turning around and you're seeing the sun peeking through the clouds once again. You truly deserve it! You're such a sweet spirit!
Yes, Terri,God IS here for me today. God is the same today as He was yesterda and as He will be tomorrow.
How comforting! He is an amazing God. Like it says in Psalm 12, "Yeah, though I walk through the valley of death" He will be beside me. That "valley of death" is not just one place. To me, it's all the dark times----the disappointing times---the scalding of our souls.
All is for a purpose----to make us STRONG in the Lord, not just talk.
He is there for me, and Terri, He is there today, NOW, for YOU. Susan
p.s. Whoops...left out the SHADOW in quoting from the psalm.....Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...
Sorry for the boo boo. Susan
It's been an amazing saga to witness. I can't help but think of what a great encourager you're going to be for someone else who struggles with these same things.
So excited for the next installments!
Kathleen
The great walk of faith...
Keep to it, sister pilgrim. These are good days to be walking with you.
peace~elaine
Blessings to you Terri. I so love the faithfulness of God in a way that I can't even describe it. Just to know that He is dependable no matter what. Truly amazing indeed.
Yes He is. Though it gets hard (or really hard, as in your case) I know I must trust that there is a greater purpose, and someday we'll understand. Glad there is light at the end of your tunnel. Thanks for this great reminder.
Terri, I'm moved by what you wrote, humbled by what you have gone through. I CAN imagine, because I've gone through something similar. The "starting agian" sucks. You just put one foot in front of the other, one step, one day at a time. The emotional pain can suck the life right out of you. You do need time to rest and recuperate.
But, I know Jesus has sustained you - held onto you, even when you think YOU are only holding onto the a thread of the hem of His garment - He has you! Your faith has not failed, and I praise God for that.
Life will come back to your soul.
I'm glad you posted and shared. We all miss you. Thank you for sharing your story with us. May you begin to open up again like a flower that blooms in the spring!
You started your blog post off with the word "Imagine ..."
And all the while I read it, I knew this was no pretend story.
Your faith ... humbles me.
Terri, I have witnessed your tough journey via your blog posts. Your faith is truly awe inspiring. Hugs.
Oops, forget to say that am really very happy that you made it.
Woohoooo! That line just totally did it for me. SO true. He is always there. :-)
Yes, he is always there, even along my meandering way... And I'm glad our paths crossed on this trek across the desert!
Yep, he's here for me today. Just read in Luke where Jesus returned and they waited for him and welcomed him. Good things happen when you wait and welcome HIM. Jarius' daughter was healed as was the woman with the issue of blood.
Great summary of the past years of your life. I'm so glad you're on the end of the journey (with the help of God's faithfulness and love) and have made contact with new church friends. You've definitely been replanted!
Amen, sister. God is faithful. I am glad to read a post from you again. Thank you for sharing this. May God continue to richly bless you. He was always there through it all.
Hey! Happy to see your post, thrilled that your new church is a place of peace and healing. I pray Austin is starting to feel more comfortable and that the newness of your life is budding in your soul and giving you strength.
I'm looking foward to a time we can meet for coffee. Have a great weekend!
Hi Terri. It's so nice to know we're not alone... Sharing the hard times can be encouraging to those who are going through them but may not have the words.
Thank you!
Hubby and I had a similar episode in our lives. It was very hard to go through. We had to move away from family and friends and it was tough going for quite a while. That was many, many years ago. Hang in there. With time it will get better.
I could say a dozen cliche responses - some quiet poetic, some scripture. But I'm slowly learning that the pat answers help just about as much as the answers Job's friends gave him, which is, zero (if not even worse).
I love that you are the heart of the matter, which is that God's faithfulness endures.
Hi Terri -
This is a powerful post and a testament to God's faithfulness.
I've experienced similar things in my life. Almost five years ago, I suffered a catastrophic loss and thought I wouldn't survive. But here I am re-discovering a zest for living.
I know there are good things ahead for you.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Your story is so sad but it has a happy ending. I'm glad you fell right into the Father's arms. Hoping that you experience good things in this new place.
You bet He is. And I know that even more good things are coming for you. Hang on, my friend! I can see the light. :)
I'm so happy for you - of course, my back rose up when I read about your family and friends not being supportive *ergh* . . .
But, here you are and here things go round and round.
I don't have much of a belief in some things any longer, but, I do believe in gratitude. You sound as if gratitude is on your mind with this post.
I am grateful to know you - for I like you quite well!
I know you've been through a lot over the last few years. Keep strong in your faith. I can relate about the hardship of leaving a home you loved to move somewhere cold and different. We've been here 3.5 years. My daughter is finally happy. All it took was joining the drama club in the high school. If you are still struggling, Terri, get active in the community. Volunteer with different organizations...it helps make you feel like it is your community too.
(hugs)
I had no idea that you had family troubles and they did not want you back home....I knew about the finances, because we did the same thing. I know about the friends, that happened to us too. But it is a miracle that the job was there and that you sold your house. You may have been broke financially, but spiritually you still had it going for you! You were faithful to God and He has been faithful to you. I am happy for you now that things have settled down.
This sounds like a great idea for a novel. You should write it.
So glad to see you here this morning! So glad you're experiencing God's grace and abundance in your new home. I'm inspired by your story and your journey, and your steadfastness.
Oh, I could have sworn I'd already commented on this post. lol. I'm losing my mind...
Yes, God is there for me everywhere I go. Sometimes he needs to remind me though ;)
When David sang, 'His love endures forever!' he meant four years too! That's what I find so amazing. Its easier to imagine infinity than it is to imagine the daily grind of four difficult years and their heartache and disappointment- well that's what I find anyhow. But how would we get up in the morning at all without His faithfulness? I wonder sometimes how people without faith manage to exist at all?
I think you are amazing in that you can write about such incredibly difficult times in such an inspiring and uplifting way; we can read your words and learn from your trials and be blessed by you. Your readers are the lucky ones, you know.
Hey Terri....Just reading some of your posts to get caught up and WOW allot has been going on there!!!
What a story you have to tell! And what a journey to share with others....Your "story" will encourage the hearts of many!
HE IS FAITHFUL!!!
Sweet Blessings!
Jackie
Thank you everyone!
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