I've been praying a lot about what this blog is to be for and why I am writing it. I do truly believe much of it is for my own benefit. Writing is a way for the Lord to communicate with me and for me to communicate with Him. I am amazed as I start writing what comes out and much of it I really need to hear from the Lord. I am grateful for an outlet for my thoughts.
But I also know that I receive a great deal of strength and encouragement from what others say and write. I think the Lord intends to use each one of us as a source of help for those He puts in our path.
In the spirit of being open and praying that in some way the words I write will minister to others out there that are in the same boat, James and I have decided that I should openly discuss "the storms" that I have been referring to that we are currently walking through. In looking through other blogs that people write, I haven't seen many that are dedicated to what we are going through. Even though, I know many are struggling just as we are. So as I write and share, please write and share back with me. James and I are strengthened through your prayers and your encouraging words. I hope that the Lord will use our experience for good and that I can be a source of hope and encouragement to others.
A week ago I posted this post. Two days later James was let go from his job. Oh my goodness, the range of emotions that flooded my body when he told me. I couldn't breathe, felt like I had been punched in the stomach. A touch of momentary pure panic set in. I just couldn't believe it was possibly true. How could this happen? We have tried so hard to be so faithful. I have just accepted a job with a $20,000 pay cut that we really felt God wanted me to take and NOW James doesn't have a job at all? It was beyond all that my mind could conceive. James has always been an exemplary employee and to just be let go???? I couldn't fathom it. What is God doing and more importantly WHY is He doing it???
There are times when I am fine and happy and the whole situation seems to be a dream, not real at all. But in those quiet times,those times when I am not rushing from here to there, not engaging with our children. In the times when I am still it is so hard to not let my mind wander to the "what ifs", "whys" and "how comes".
I will write more later, but I wanted to share what the "storm" is and stop being so cryptic. We ask for your prayers.
I also have a request, if you know of anyone who is going through a job loss right now in their family, please give them my blog address. I want to be able to encourage others in the midst of their storms. Losing a job is not a topic that many are willing to openly talk about. Job loss seems to make people feel ashamed, frustrated and so very alone and forsaken. But with 10% of the workforce filing for unemployement it is effecting a great many of us. No one needs to walk through it alone.....
