Tag: guidance

2021: A Look Back

Published on by christinaboundlessjoy1 Comment

Two words that sum up my year are “constant change.” During 2021, I’ve had three full-time jobs, moved to a new state, and spent one-and-a-half months unemployed. This included living in a hotel and shuffling between two states for a few months. Some weeks, I was on an emotional roller coaster. One day, I’d be thrilled and excited for what God was doing, and the next would find me laying on my bed feeling hopeless. These challenges revealed needs deeper than I had ever experienced. Through it all, my understanding of Jesus’ character was magnified.

Jesus, My Provider

When I accepted a job in a new state, I did not have a place to live. Apartments were being listed and sold within hours. While at work, I would receive an email notification about a newly available unit. However, by the time I submitted the application, someone else had already claimed the unit. It was an incredibly frustrating process. My family, friends, leaders, and I were all praying for a safe place for me to live. Two weeks before my start date, my new employers connected me with a woman who told me I could stay with her as long as I needed. It was great! Jesus took care of this need.

Jesus, Faithful One

I spent some time unemployed. While I was searching for a job and receiving either rejections or no response, Jesus kept reminding me that He had not forgotten me. One evening I attended a prayer meeting with a few hundred people. At a random point in the service, the pastor asked anyone who is unemployed to come up to the front. About 15 of us came up for prayer. It felt like God stopped the prayer meeting to remind me He had not forgotten me, and that He was working things out for me.

At the beginning of this period of unemployment, I did not realize how worried I was. I was worried that I would be able to stay in Pennsylvania, worried that I would have my own apartment, worried that I wouldn’t, anxious about where God wanted me to go, and excited at the idea of staying put and finishing a Master’s degree. A timely sermon revealed the depth of my worry, and I began to give all of these concerns to Jesus. He took my worries, and gave me peace. (Plus, He gave me a new job that I love.)

Jesus, My Friend

Jesus delights to give us good things. I moved into a new apartment, and there are a few specific items on my wish list that weren’t “make or break” for my apartment, but I was blessed with anyway—like a bedroom that’s not on the ground floor and a breakfast area near a big window.

Another example, on my way to a new church group, I asked God to help me with who I would talk to and sit with. I was a few minutes late to the meeting, so I sat at the first open seat I saw. Three people that I knew walked in and joined the table. Three! I went with no one and ended in a discussion group with THREE people I knew. What a friend I have in Jesus.

Jesus Never Changes

The changes I experienced this year have highlighted Jesus’ unchanging nature. All of the qualities I’ve shared have been true of Jesus for hundreds of years, and will remain true for the rest of our lives and into eternity. This gives me hope for the new year. Through both the joys and the challenges that come, Jesus remains the same; He has been faithful and is able to help you, too.

Life Lesson: Jesus is a faithful friend who never changes. This gives us hope for the future.

A Good Shove

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Sometimes when you ask Jesus to guide your steps, He gives you a good shove into it, like your friend who pushes you down the water slide you wanted to ride but lost your nerve while looking down it.

My first job after college was as a barista, and I soon become a shift lead. I liked getting a good foam, seeing people enjoy their food and beverages, chatting with the regulars, learning new drinks, and working with my coworkers. Even the schedule of working in retail was bearable.

Though I wanted a full-time job in communications, I was not putting in enough effort to get a new job in my field. God used a series of events to push me there.

A Growing Discomfort

I was training to be a café manager, but when the time came for the promotion, someone else was selected for the position. After this, some of my other co-workers left for various reasons. I was losing excitement and motivation, and becoming dissatisfied.

This dissatisfaction led me to actively pursue full-time jobs in my field. I drew on all that I had learned previously about finding a job and got to work. One of my mentors had told me that getting a full-time job was a full-time job, and she was right. I updated my resume and cover letter with my current experiences, and made it my goal to apply for 2-3 jobs a day.

One of the jobs I applied to was through Handshake, an employment website for college students. It took a few months to hear back, and by that time, I was ready to leave the café. The interviews for the new job went well; the Communications Director saw my experiences and my potential, and offered me a full-time job in communications! I accepted the offer and eventually become a Content Marketing Specialist and Department Administrator.

A Good Shove

The way this happened felt like I was being shoved out of one thing in order to push me to actively look for a new job, which turned into a great opportunity. However, I needed this push so I would pursue this opportunity, which was the next step Jesus had for me.

Life Lesson: Sometimes God makes you uncomfortable in your current place to push you to the next place He wants you to be.

Tip about Job Hunting: Keep a log of which jobs you apply to. Not all of them send confirmation emails, and some may take a few weeks or months to get back. You can refer to the log to remember what position you applied to at the specific company.