Tag: Job

What Good Is It?

On By Rachel ChadalavadaIn Uncategorized1 Comment

I grew up in a country that puts a lot of pressure and importance on academia. By the time you reach 10th grade, you should already know what your career path would be – Often times it is medicine or engineering. The “Arts” were considered an area for the not-so-bright science rejects. So imagine my family’s disappointment when I decided I did not want to pursue any of the “bright” subjects, especially because I was a very bright child. “At the very least, do computers or finance,” my dad pleaded. If you knew me, you’d know how terrible I would’ve been in any of those careers. I mean, can you see me crunching numbers? My Math teacher in class 10 said she’d be impressed if I even just barely made a passing grade. Joke’s on her – I scored 92/100. What does this piece of information have to do with this post? Nothing at all. I just wanted to talk about my excellent score 🙂

I love my dad, and he loved me dearly but boy did we not see eye to eye when it came to my academic choices. Everything was a fight. After my excellent Math score in grade 10, he was adamant that I do engineering. I was adamant that I would make a terrible engineer. So to appease him and find a half way point, I chose to do Math, Economics and Commerce in my 11th and 12th. The only thing that came out of that choice was trauma from miserably failing Math, and a shattered self-confidence from bringing upon myself the shame of flunking a career-defining exam.

College and my choice of major was another fight – I’m talking strong and loud arguments and tears till my eyes were swollen. I was finally given the OK to pursue Communications. The OK wasn’t a – I believe in you; you’ve got this – kind of OK. It was a – I’ve given up on you; do what you want – kind of OK. Ouch! Every brown person reading this knows exactly what I’m talking about.

One of my classes in college was international relations. When I started reading about the United Nations (UN), my heart was set on it. That’s where I saw myself heading. I wanted to work with the UN because it was my only point of reference for disaster relief, humanitarian aid, international development – everything that would fulfill my heart’s desire to do something of value. I thought my tenure with the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad, was my stepping stone to world relief. But after working there for close to four years, I realized I wanted to do more with my life – I wanted to do something that was of eternal value. After a lot of thinking and prayer and consideration, I decided to quit and pursue another degree.

During the two years I spent pursuing my Master’s, I fell more and more in love with channeling all my energy toward eternal gain. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world but forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). These remarkable words of Jesus would often come to mind. What good is it? Working with the UN, a diplomatic agency, would mean I could not talk about Jesus or His love. What good would it be? It took a while, but I had to make the difficult, yet conscious decision of laying down and surrendering to the Lord, my dreams of working there. Don’t get me wrong. Everything about the UN is fantastic. But somewhere, at some point, the Lord changed my heart, and my priorities. I just couldn’t process providing relief for the body, without also providing relief for the soul. That’s what Jesus did.

In a few months, I will have completed three years of loving and serving the people of South Sudan. There are several days when I am frustrated and angry and wonder what I am even doing here; but there has not been a single day, a single hour, or a single minute when I have regretted my decision to move to this nation – To be here. To serve here. Even though the circumstances in this country are complex and beyond my understanding, the people are wonderful. They are resilient. They are brave. They have seen unimaginable trauma and loss but they still keep going. Everything about what I do here in Juba and South Sudan points these amazing men and women to Jesus and I love that. I love that when I laid down my dreams of the UN, the Lord showed me how His dreams were a much better choice for me – I still get to do disaster relief. I still get to provide humanitarian aid. I still get to focus on international development. But above all, I get to do it in Jesus’ name.

Some time ago, a fellow humanitarian worker asked me why faith was such a factor for me. Why did it matter why I did what I did? At the end of the day, what matters is that people’s needs are met. It is true. Meeting people’s basic needs are a priority. But the food I provide them with today is only going the help them and keep them until the next food distribution. When I first came to South Sudan, one of our national staff said to me, “Rachel, what is the hope for South Sudan? We have no point of reference.” That statement stuck with me. It’s also what keeps me going. I told this fellow humanitarian worker that in order to remove hunger, I needed to provide food. What could I offer in order to remove hopelessness? “We give them hope,” he responded. “What is your point of reference for hope?” I asked him. He didn’t have an answer. I did.

We often use the term ‘Hope’ to project uncertainty – I hope you feel better; I hope you are doing well; I hope you make it safely; But there isn’t a thing that is uncertain about hope. Hope is distinct. It is absolute. It is certain. “We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to Jesus himself. Our anchor of hope is fastened to the mercy seat in the heavenly realm beyond the sacred threshold” ~ Hebrews 6:19. My hope comes from Jesus. He is the hope for South Sudan. Because of Him, I am able to provide relief and hope to a very broken people, in a very broken country, that have no immediate relief from their very broken context – all in the name of Jesus, my anchor of hope.

“What good is it to a man if he would gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” ~ Mark 8:36

In closing I have to say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!

A Still Small Voice

On By Rachel ChadalavadaIn Future, Life, Uncertainty3 Comments

Have you ever felt as though the voices around you seem to contradict the very thing that you thought you knew for sure? Has it ever seemed like you tend to trust what other people say about your situation, more than what God does? I’ve felt that way these past couple of days.

As somebody who left a very comfortable job, a wonderful family, amazing friends, a nurturing church and doting niece and nephews, coming to the understanding that God’s plan for me was in America, and not in India, didn’t come easy. I cried out, “Help! I’m Desperate!” before I finally surrendered to Him.

After my Associate position with Samaritan’s Purse ended in January 2016, I was all set to book my tickets back to India. However, the Lord intervened and convinced me to trust Him and to trust the plans He had for me here in America. Finally casting all my cares on Him, I began serving Operation Christmas Child as a volunteer. The next four months opened my eyes to a deeper, much closer, stronger walk with Jesus. In early January this year God made it abundantly clear to me that I needed to stop looking over my shoulder at India and begin laying down roots here in America. When I wondered if that was God’s voice or my own, He spoke to me from John 10:3-4. I knew without a shadow of doubt that this was all God because I know my Shepherd! I recognize His voice.

Once I acknowledged the plan He made so evident to me, and trusted Him to fulfill it, I watched in amazement as He went ahead of me and created the path for me. For the first time in my life, I watched as the Lord fought every single battle for me, while I simply sat still. He moved mountains to ensure that Samaritan’s Purse submitted an H1B petition for me and that I would serve as a National Spokesperson for Operation Christmas Child!

Over these past few years of waiting and wondering where I’m headed, if there is one thing I have learned, it is that God always lead with His peace (Isaiah 55:12a). Even though I’ve been living in excruciating uncertainty, I’ve seen first hand what it means to be the daughter of the Prince of Peace! The perfect peace (Isaiah 25:3) that He’s poured on me is beyond comprehension!

On April 9, 2016 the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services completed the random computer generated lottery for H1B petitions. This means that I will hear about my visa situation any day now. While this is exciting, it’s also scary. This past Friday I began getting anxious – Not because I was worried, but because I hadn’t heard anything about my visa. Nothing! The more I researched on the H1B lottery, the more I read about people already having received notifications of whether or not they were picked for visa processing. Several schools of thought, including that of friends who’ve been through this process hinted at the chance of my petition not making the lottery. This would mean that I would go back to India. I spent all of Friday breaking my head over why I hadn’t heard anything yet. I spent all weekend listening to various different voices – friends, H1B discussion boards, H1B blogs, “Experts” on the process – telling me that because I hadn’t heard anything about the lottery result, it could mean that I didn’t get picked in the lottery. But in my heart, I know without a shadow of doubt that the Lord’s not calling me to India. So, how can this be?

And then, I heard a still small voice saying – “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things” ~ Ecclesiastes 11:5

Now, I may be quoting that verse out of context but this I know with all my heart – I have a 0.31 chance of being picked in the lottery. If my future were left to “chance” I would be worried. Good thing that even though I do not know what the future holds, I know WHO holds my future and He knows EXACTLY what He is doing.

So, even though I haven’t heard about the status of my visa petition, I am choosing to believe that the God Who went ahead of me and created a path to bring me to America, keep me here for almost 3yrs, get me introduced to Samaritan’s Purse, cross my path with people who would fight for me tooth and nail till I had a full time position, get my H1B petition into the lottery, give me a fully furnished all utilities included house, GIFT me a CAR, is the same God Who will get me through the lottery.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 

~ 1 Kings 19:11-13 

In closing I have to say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!

 

Back to Square One

On By Rachel ChadalavadaIn Chaos, Future, UncertaintyLeave a comment

One thing that I absolutely love about Samaritan’s Purse is the time of devotions we have in the morning. There is something unexplainably wonderful about soaking the start of your day in prayer and adoration of the One who is the very foundation of the organization, and truly, our lives itself. We start every morning with 15mins of devotion time, followed by another 15mins of praying for each other’s needs – sharing one another’s burdens if you will. Today was no exception.

The day began with a very special speaker. I’ve heard her speak twice to date and both times she made sure she hit the nail on the head! Today, she shared with us from the book of Isaiah, quoting chapter 6, verse 8, where Isaiah responds to a call and says, “Here I am. Send me.” She went on to expound on identifying the call that the Lord places in our lives and our God-instilled need to pursue that call. She challenged us to look beyond our need to create a sense of understanding and logic, to where God would use us next. She reminded us to shrug off our sense of security in the here and now, and keep our eyes firmly planted on the One who sees the bigger picture. If need be, we should get out of our comfort zone in obedience to what the Lord is asking of us to do.

For the most part this message challenged me. However, it also did an extremely good job of freaking me out. I had this overwhelming sense of uncertainty just pour over me. And just like that I was all too aware, that I was completely unaware about where I would be a little over a month from now. If you’ve read my previous blog posts, you would know that my position with Operation Christmas Child ends on January 26, 2016. That’s exactly 42 days from today. Compared to my previous times of waiting, I know for a fact that this time, I’ve done so much better. I have sought after the Lord, instead of seeking after my future. I gave Him first place in my life, and He gave me an unexplainable sense of peace. In this particular season of waiting, He truly became my anchor and my support system. But today, as the speaker challenged us to go wherever the Lord is calling us, I stopped to think about where God was calling me. And I realized, I had no clue – None whatsoever! I don’t know where I’m headed from here. I am convinced that the Lord is not calling me back to India… well, not yet at least. All I know, is that I love Jesus, and I adore children, and I will do whatever I am able, to bring them both together. Right now it means to share my story of receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox in India in 1999, and encouraging more and more people to pack shoeboxes as a tangible way of following Jesus’ heart of bringing children to Him. But what after that? I was back to square one!

I went back to my desk this morning with almost an overwhelming sense of dejection and – what’s the word I’m looking for – helplessness! As I sat down to start my day, I lay my head in my hands and finally shed a tear. You’d be amazed what crying a little can do for your soul. I lifted my voice in prayer, asking the Lord to help me never doubt His faithfulness in my life. He has never let me down to date. There is no reason why He’d start now. I asked for faith to look beyond my limited vision. I wiped my tears, put my earphones in and began working.

Then, I heard Chris Tomlin sing sweetly into my ears – “You’re a good, good Father, it’s who You are. I am loved by You. It’s who I am. You are perfect in all of Your ways to us.” As I hummed along, I was reminded all over again that God is my Father, He has nothing short of the best in store for me. Even in times of uncertainty, especially in times of uncertainty, His goodness is undeniable. And for now, resting in that understanding is more than enough for me.

In closing I have to say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!

The King’s Heart

On By Rachel ChadalavadaIn Future, Uncategorized, UncertaintyLeave a comment

In one of my previous blog posts, I told you about the journey that brought me to Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child. If you haven’t read that one yet, stop reading and click here. Have you read that yet? Okay, now that you are completely updated with my life, you may continue reading.

January 26, 2016 will mark the last day of my position as a Media Relations Associate (yes, that is in fact, less than two months away). I have loved everything I’ve done in this role and I adore the people in my department. Each of them stands tall, radiating the love of Jesus and that just reminds me of how blessed I am to be a part of this team. With that being said, I have been praying earnestly about where the Lord would have me after I graduate from this role. I’ve already told you that God’s not calling me to India. Not yet at least. But the fun part is, I don’t know where He is calling me to. So yay! With Jesus, life is always an adventure. I don’t know anyone else who can make uncertainty, something to look forward to – It’s like a surprise party EVERY TIME! (Notice how I transitioned from fearful to fearless?!!!)

All that to say, I have been job-hunting again. We all know how exciting an ordeal that is *rolling eyes*! However, for a “non-resident alien” such as myself and every other international person living in the United States, job hunting is so much more than just finding a job. We have to get very specific in the kind of positions we apply to because of our visa restrictions. Basically, when an employer hires an international, they have to prove to the government that that particular position cannot be filled by an American citizen because it calls for a very specific skillset which only an international has. Now, if you know me, you know that there isn’t anything extraordinary about me. I don’t mean that in a self-deprecating way but in an I-know-my-limits kind of way. With that sense of self-awareness, I prayed that the Lord would show me what I can bring to the table that an American cannot. I soon realized that the only thing I can bring, is my Indian heritage. So, I laid that before the Lord and asked Him how I can use my ethnicity for His glory.

Fast-forward two weeks after I made that prayer. I was looking for jobs and found one that was aimed at South-Asia, the very part of the world that I am from. Super excited I read through the position and found out it was at least four levels up on the corporate ladder than the position I was currently in. No way would I ever qualify for that! Disheartened I closed the webpage and got on with my work. However, for the life of me I couldn’t think past that position. I almost felt it was an answer to the prayer I made offering my heritage and ethnicity to the Lord. Other than the fact that that position was so high up, I was perfect for it. I soaked it in prayer not quite sure what to ask for and what response to expect. I decided I was going to talk about applying to that position, with the person to whom that position reports. After a very healthy conversation, this person suggested I speak to the others in the department who work in similar roles so I can learn a little about what that position entails. So, that’s exactly what I did.

I arranged to meet with each of these people over lunch. I started with Mr. A. As he shared his experiences and challenges with me, I felt this overwhelming sense of unworthiness. I saw how small I was for the job. I thought of a bajillion reasons why I shouldn’t be doing it. The feeling of smallness was overbearing. I was giving God reasons why He should find someone else for that position. At the very end of the conversation, Mr. A asked me why I was having this conversation (I hadn’t mentioned anything about the job to him or to anyone else that I spoke to). I gave him an honest response and then added that while I would absolutely LOVE working in that position, I felt small and inadequate. I told him that the Lord needed to find someone else. He just looked at me and said, “Who are you to decide that?” He then pointed me to one of the greatest kings in history – King David – The youngest of Jesse’s sons. He was also the smallest. In his own strength, David was completely incapable of being a king. So much so, that the prophet Samuel found it hard to believe that God would choose someone as insignificant as David. Mr. A smiled at me and said, “It is not your job to wonder if you will get this position or not. Your job is only to be available should the Lord choose you for it. If God wants you to fill the position, He will work in the heart of the leadership. You only need to be still.”

I went home that day and thought about what Mr. A said. I needed to hear that because whether I acknowledge it or not, I was putting God in a box and dictating what He can and cannot do for me. As His child, someone who truly believes that He can do anything… the very impossible thing even, I should aim high. I should seek after dreams that I can never fulfill on my own. After all, is anything too hard for the Lord?

I learned that day that the king’s heart is in the Lord’s hand (Proverbs 21:1). And for me, that should be the only thing that matters. Whether I get the position or not is not the question here. The question here is – Am I willing to let the Lord work in my life? Am I willing to ask Him for what seems like the impossible and truly believe that He is able to do it? Am I willing to aim high, reach for the stars and seek after that which I cannot accomplish on my own? Or, am I living a life that is limited by my idea of skills and abilities?

Although it is not always easy, I now truly believe that the king’s heart is in the Lord’s hand. Do you?

In closing I have to say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!

Surely I’m Capable of More

On By Rachel ChadalavadaIn Future, Uncertainty, WorshipLeave a comment

Earlier this week, my manager gave me a simple task to do. She wanted me to ship some labels out. I did it and replied to her email letting her know that the task was done. She responded like the way she always does – with a “Thank you.” You may read this and think – so what? What’s the big deal? The big deal is, she has never missed saying thank you for the simplest things I’ve done – sending out mail, editing bios, updating a spreadsheet or just walking over to her desk to answer a question. She has always said thank you (a true sign of a good leader if you ask me!). Now, I don’t work to be appreciated, but when you are consistently appreciated, you have to acknowledge it. So I wrote her a note telling her how awesome she was to consider those under her and say thank you. Obviously touched by the little note, she responded and said that it means a lot that even though I hold a Master’s degree, I am willing to do things like mailing out labels.

I’m not saying this to pat myself on the back, but I am at a point in life where I truly believe that work is work. You honor what you are asked to do, and you do it diligently and with integrity. Now, I was not always like this. There was a time when I didn’t want to do something because I thought it was menial work. But God broke my pride. He taught me that humility goes a long way.

In 2009 I was offered a job at a diplomatic mission as an Administrative Assistant. Please don’t get me wrong when I say this, but I thought the position was that of a glorified secretary and so I did not want to do that job at all. I almost felt that it was beneath me and that I was capable of more. Nonetheless, I took the job and I did it to the best of my abilities. I worked very hard but I had a really bad attitude about it. I didn’t enjoy my work. I did it because it was my job and because I needed a paycheck. Until, the Lord broke my pride by teaching me two very important things:

  1. Who Am I Working For?

The Bible teaches us in Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” That verse was a slap in my face! I asked myself – If Jesus wanted an Administrative Assistant, I’d want to be that person right? Well, I was that person at that very moment. Once I learned that I wasn’t working for my organization. Rather, I was working for my Lord, my whole perspective changed. Now, I gave my job my whole heart and in doing so, learned how important my role was and how humbling it was to be in that position. I learned so much being in the position. God could’ve picked anyone else to do that job but He didn’t. He picked me and I wasn’t about to let Him down.

  1. Can I Be Trusted with More?

The Bible teaches us in Luke 16:10 – “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much.” If I cannot do a menial task diligently, what makes me think I can do a more responsible position any better? It was only after I learned to be faithful and work with all my heart in the position of an Administrative Assistant was I offered the position of a Cultural Affairs Assistant. My position stepped up, my responsibilities grew but it was only because the right people saw that I was faithful in the little things and could be trusted with more.

What is the point to this blogpost? It is this – Perhaps you are more educated than what your job requires. Perhaps you feel like the work you are doing is beneath you. Perhaps you think that you are capable of more. There is nothing wrong in wanting more. We should all aim high. But just because our goals are higher, doesn’t mean that what we are doing at this very moment is meaningless. On the contrary, may I suggest that your present is in fact, preparation for what is yet to come? I want to challenge you – be faithful in the little. Once you learn how to, God will pile on the responsibilities. Trust Him with it. As children of the living God, we have to believe – God doesn’t make any mistakes. If He has allowed you to be a temporary Media Relations Associate, it is with purpose. If He has allowed you to be a cashier at a retail store, it is with purpose. If He has allowed you to be a secretary, it is with purpose. If God has allowed you to have the worst boss under the sun, it is with purpose.

So, should I be mailing out labels when I hold two Master’s degrees? ABSOLUTELY! If the King of Kings could work as a carpenter, I think I can ship some labels. Wouldn’t you agree?

In closing I have to say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!

Help Me! I’m Desperate!

On By Rachel ChadalavadaIn Future, Uncertainty2 Comments

I’m going to start off by saying that God is good. He knows the hearts of His children and He knows how to meet them at their point of need. He did this for me and I know He will do it for you too.

Many of you know that I am currently employed and absolutely LOVE what I do. I adore the organization I work with and I am convinced without a shadow of doubt that God placed me here and there is purpose in EVERYTHING He does. That said, I should also acknowledge that the position I am in right now is temporary and as January comes to an end, so will my employment. But I’m not afraid. Not any more.

Before I accepted this position, I was in a waiting period that lasted 7months – Seven excruciatingly painful months of waiting! In those months I did everything that was expected of me. I did my part. Yet, nothing worked out for me. I started applying for jobs in December 2014. I followed up with applications and put in more in February. I applied for my OPT and got my paperwork done earlier than I needed to. I did everything right. I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted a full time job that would sponsor an H1B. Actually, I didn’t even want the employer to sponsor me. I just wanted them to be open to the idea of sponsorship. I told myself if that happened, God would work everything else out.

In those seven months I laughed at the irony of having 6yrs of work experience, two master’s degrees and still being completely incapable of securing a job. I cried at the helplessness of being an international student and having nothing more to offer than an average American citizen. I was mad at the complete lack of response from companies and organizations I applied to. I was frustrated with potential employers who conducted hour-long interviews only to turn around and tell me that they didn’t want to hire me because of my visa restrictions. I prayed desperately, almost begging God to take me back to India, but He told me I had to stay here – in a country where I was an “alien.” He laid it on my heart to make America my home… at least for the moment. That knowledge frustrated me even more because now I knew I had to stay in this country but I had no clue as to how I would.

I tried to stay encouraged. I smiled and I applied for more and more jobs. I told everyone who asked that I was trusting the Lord. I told them He was in control. But in the stillness of the night I felt like a complete failure. I felt like an idiot who couldn’t get her act together. I cried myself to sleep every other night and the nights I didn’t cry, I hardly slept. I became desperate. I was willing to do any job as long as it had to do with my education. I took my list of “conditions for employment” and threw it in the trashcan.

In my utterly desperate state, tears flowing down my face, I fell to the ground and surrendered EVERYTHING to the Lord. For the first time in those 7months, I asked Jesus to have His way. I told Him I’d take whatever job He would give me. Temporary. Part time. Whatever He would say, I would do. Wherever He would send me, I would go. No questions asked. I didn’t lay out for Him the importance of finding a full time employment; neither did I point out to Him my need for an employment visa. For once, I just trusted that He knew best.

Then it happened. One day, an angel who shall remain unnamed (you know who you are), fought for me. Her kindness toward me and her persistence toward the position opened the doors to Operation Christmas Child for me. For a moment I hesitated because taking up a temporary position would mean that I would go through a waiting period again. But I was reminded by the Psalmist when he said, “In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them” (Psalm 22:4). God’s deliverance came AFTER His people trusted Him. Not the other way around.

With that, I walked into my position as a Media Relations Associate. From the day I started working there, to this very day, I have LOVED every single moment of my employment. Regardless of what I do – perhaps I’m just sending out an email, or I’m recording who is doing what interview and where… I know that there is a greater cause. God knew that to me, only two things truly mattered – Jesus and children – both of which are wonderfully fulfilled at Operation Christmas Child.

Even though I have less than three months of employment left, I know I have played a role in planting the seeds of Jesus’ love in the hearts of children around the world. I am happy. I am content. I’m humbled and convinced that God’s not done with me yet.

What is the point this post you ask? It is this – Sometimes, God has to bring us to extremely desperate seasons in our life for us to stop, and just completely trust Him. If I didn’t come to a point of desperation, I would not have obeyed the Lord in serving Operation Christmas Child. Even before I knew it, Jesus knew that I loved children. Even before I knew it, Jesus knew my heart. He knew my need. When I humbled myself because of my desperation, He gave me the best. By mid-December, I would have travelled to six different cities, addressed gatherings of 200 youth, done three radio interviews, addressed a church on a televised program, and flown to California (yes!), all of which will point people to the needs of children around the world, the greatest need being to hear of the love of Jesus.

In your desperation, remember, God may just be fine-tuning your ears to pay attention to His voice.

In closing I have to say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!

Overwhelmed Much?

On By Rachel ChadalavadaIn Chaos, Uncertainty, WorshipLeave a comment

Recently I committed to reading the Bible cover to cover. Wait, let me rephrase that. I recently committed to STUDYING the Bible from cover to cover. The difference between the two words makes a world of a difference! So far, I have been able to read from Genesis through Nehemiah. I am currently reading the book of Job.

Funny story – I was sitting by Bass lake earlier today, reading my Bible. An elderly lady walked past me and asked if I was reading my Bible. When I responded yes, she wanted to know what book I was reading and I told her. She smiled at me and asked me if the reason I was reading it was because I was having troubles. Lol!

It is unfortunate isn’t it that we associate the book of Job with the troubles he went through, his whining, annoying friends…? I know that the book has a happy ending, as I believe every story should. But what caught my attention isn’t the ending. It is the beginning. Let me explain.

If you know the story of Job at all, you will remember that God permits Satan to try Job because God was confident that he would not turn his back on Him. Job was living a happy and content life. But before he knew it, BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! Four catastrophes occurred, one after another.

  1. The Sabeans attacked and took all the oxen and the donkeys.

  2. Lightening struck all of his sheep.

  3. The Chaldeans made a raid and stole all the camels.

  4. ALL of Job’s children died – Not one, not two… ALL of them! 

Let’s take a moment and think about this. The Bible says that each of these incidents were reported to Job by a servant… the one servant that survived each of these catastrophes. That said, I encourage you to read the passage for yourself (Job 1: 13-22) and take into consideration the words the writer of this book uses to indicate how the servants brought these reports to Job. The Bible says, “While he was still speaking…” These words precede every incident. In other words, before Job even had the time to process one tragedy, another struck. Before he could come to terms with one loss, another hit. Talk about beating the wind out of someone!

His response to this overwhelming heart ache? He fell to the ground and WORSHIPPED! (Job 1:20)

I don’t know what it is that you are feeling overwhelmed about. May be you’ve received information that is life changing? Perhaps you are apprehensive about the future? Could it be that your present makes no sense? Or, you’ve lost a dear one? May be you just found out that you have a huge payment to make and you are completely broke? May I be so bold as to say – Regardless of your situation, would you like Job consider bowing down in worship?

Worshipping God in times of testing isn’t the most easiest of things to do. It probably will not solve your problems. However, bowing down in worship will give you the strength, the courage and the peace you need to catch a breath and humble yourself before the Lord, reminding yourself of who truly is in control. Worship is our way of stepping back and letting God bring order in to our chaos!

I doubt any of us is as overwhelmed as Job was. So, despite what he was going through, if he could fall down in worship, so can we!

In closing I have to say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!