WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN

A little over 7 years ago I decided to change jobs. Years before I did this, I prayed for the opportunity to move from a job where I was very unhappy.  The doctor was very clear that stress was affecting my health.

Then the perfect job showed itself. It was a teaching position at a small private school. The pay was good--for a private school--and the environment was great. I loved the job. Parents were very positive and the kids were a lot of fun. My next check-up was so good that the doctor took my blood pressure 3 different times on 2 different cups, just to make sure my scores were really that improved.

Everything indicated that this job was the answer to my prayers and that I made the right choice by accepting this teaching position.

Then the economy tanked and the school was forced to lay off all its new hires. I accepted temporary job after temporary job for the next 7 years. Often, I thought,"Maybe I should have stayed with my old reliable job."

I felt that God provided the new school position for me, but things turned out so wrong that I must have misread all the signs.

I was talking with my good friend, Al, just yesterday. He mentioned the Biblical story of Joseph, in relation to fiscal responsibility. As I was driving home, I was still thinking about that story.

Joseph did the right thing. He did what God wanted. He resisted Pottifer's wife and was still accused of the crime. As a result he was thrown in jail. If he had slept with her, he would not have received the jail sentence.

Sometimes bad things happen, even when we do God's will. God had a plan for Joseph. He saved the lives of his own family and an entire country.

Why did my life take such twists and turns these past 7 years?

I don't know.

Knowing what I know, would I have made the same choices?

I like to think I would.

NEW OUTLOOK

It's been 7 long years since I've had a steady, long term job. I left teaching in public school because I was tired of teaching children how to take tests. I was weary of the bullying that was permitted in the public school where taught. I moved to a private school where I was very happy to be a teacher.

Then the economy tanked. For the next few years I taught wherever I could; daycare centers where I was paid 7.50 an hour to care for a room full of children, a private school where I was actually cheated out of the pay for which I was contracted, and even worked for 4 years as a substitute teacher.

Seven years is a long time and it is easy to be discouraged.

Then it happened. I finally found a permanent job. I am no longer a teacher, the job for which I studied and have over 20 years experience. The fact remains that in my area, school systems have laid-off teachers for over 3 years and there is a large number of teachers struggling to find employment, anywhere. I regret leaving teaching, but am happy to start a new phase in my life.

The 4 years as a substitute taught me a couple of important lessons.

Lesson 1--Let others know if you need help. Those who love you will want to help you. Don't let your pride prevent others from getting the blessing they will receive from helping you. My son was working and living at home. I hated asking him to chip in more on the bills. Still, it was something he needed to do, something that was necessary to his maturity.

Lesson 2--I learned to trust God to care for my needs. Though I did make due without many things I wanted, God provided for those things I needed. I used to stress about all of that, but I learned to relax and trust God . 

For any of you, who are in a similar situation, don't give up hope.

 Keep looking.