May He Increase

Posted By Joe on July 13, 2009

Today begins my final week for my current employer. This is the first job I've had where I know for sure I'll be out of work on a certain day. At my last job I had no warning. Sure, the signs were there but I had no idea that I was going to be axed.

And yet, God is working through all of this. Truly. Two years ago, when I got laid off, He moved in a big, unforeseen way to take care of us. Should I expect God to do the same exact thing this time? Absolutely not. Just as Jesus did not heal anyone the exact same way, God can take care of us however He choses to. He's God and I'm not!

I mentioned how God answered my prayer to speak to me. Well, it didn't stop after Friday! In fact, so many things are coming together it's hard for me to remember them all. I would like to write some of them down here as a memorial to God's faithfulness, just as I did on Friday.

• A former coworker of mine--not a Christian to the best of my knowledge, but has read the Bible and studied it--sent me a Facebook message about job openings in Southern California. He lives in Denver. The job openings were for one of the local churches in my area. The church is the same one that is attended by the president of the company I just submitted a résumé to! My coworker said that he didn't know why he was doing a search for church jobs in my area. I know why: it's the Lord!
• My wife woke up Sunday with Philippians on her heart. Guess what one of the passages were that our pastor spoke of later at church?

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." --Philippians 4:11-13. (Emphasis mine.)

• The rest of the sermon was on generosity, based on 2 Corinthians 8. The majority of the sermon was either conviction for how we have been handling our finances during this difficult time, or it was encouragement for this difficult time. We were reminded yet again of Jesus' words:

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." --Matthew 6:31-34.

• I also heard a podcast last week from Chuck Missler retelling some of the financial nightmares that he and his family encountered. He was talking about how he used to drive down the mountain from where they lived every day to go to work. Each car he'd pass on the way down was a "way out" for him: all he needed to do was drive into one. He had a huge life insurance policy that would have taken care of his family if he just got out of the picture. He was suicidal. Then one morning he realized that God is who He says He is, or He's not.

Chuck's statement resonated with me. God is who He says He is, or He's not. If I believe that He will never fail me nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:8), then why should I fear? He knows me, understands me, and loves me more than I can imagine. He knows my every thought and my every step. He will guide me in the way I should go.

May He Increase!

Categories: 2 Corinthians, Deuteronomy, Encouragement, Matthew, Philippians, Prayer
Tags: chuck missler, faith, hope, peace, Prayer, priorities, suffering, testimony, trials, work