God’s Favor
Last week my husband walked into his office a career man. Six hours later, he was overcome with emotion as he was told that his employer of 17 years was laying him off. Imagine the shock, disbelief, and feelings of betrayal that swept over him in waves as he tried to grasp what they were saying to him. He had been a huge part of the company, a key employee, for the better part of 17 years, and this is the thanks he gets? Laid off?
Oh sure, they reassured him that there wasn’t anything he’d done wrong. It came down to money issues at the company. Although my husband made the company a million dollars in the year 2014, another coworker and project manager lost the company a significant amount of money on another project. Yet, my husband was the one to take the fall for this. No, they didn’t blame it on him as they knew full well who was over that project. But, being as this guy was the vice-president, they certainly weren’t going to can him. Instead, they decided to lay my husband off.
Years ago I told my husband NOT to idolize his job. I remember times that he seemed to put his job before his family. That wasn’t right, and he has since corrected that way of thinking. But, he did love his job so much and enjoyed what he was doing. He served that company well for 17 years! However, one should never put their job so high up on the pedestal thinking that they are untouchable or that they have security in that position. One would think that after 17 years of hard work, loyalty, dedication, and devotion that it would matter a great deal to the company, but in this case, we can all see that, sadly, it did not. My husband was slammed with feelings of betrayal as he gave so much to this company, and yet now he’s being told that his employment has come to an end. He felt stripped of his position, as well as his company truck, and other perks that came along with his job.
I received a text prior to my husband’s meeting with the executives of that company. I could tell he was nervous as any one would be upon getting called into a meeting like this that wasn’t the norm for their line of work. Trying to reassure my husband, I wrote back these words:
God is already there. He knows the outcome of this meeting,
and He is in control. We just have to trust him.
When my husband called shortly thereafter and told me the news last week, I still had peace in my heart as I said:
Oh baby, I’m so sorry. But, I know that God is going to take care of us!
We just have to have faith, even faith as small as a mustard seed.
He responded that he had that, and I reassured him that everything was going to be okay.
Upon arriving home that evening, I hugged my husband and held him close to me. He was wracked with fear and worry. I just looked into his grief stricken eyes and told him again that God is going to take care of us.
We had to go in to his former employer last Friday to clean out his office. As you can imagine, he had a lot of things he accumulated in the past 17 years. His former boss came into his office not expecting to see me there with him, and when he did, the man became visibly nervous stuttering his speech and hands shaking right where he stood. He should have been nervous and shaking because he wasn’t only doing this to my husband, but he was doing this to our entire family. We have two children to provide for! He knew that, too. It didn’t seem to matter until he came face to face with me in that office. He needed to look into my eyes as well to see how this was affecting me, too, as my husband and I are a team. He wasn’t the only one going through this. We all were.
We drove away with the fear of the unknown riding right along with us weighing us down.
And so the job search began. Thankfully, my husband had contacts that he built a friendly working relationship with through the years. They started calling him as they heard the news of his lay off. As the calls started coming in, it was a mixture of disbelief and great sympathy for what our family was now facing. They had a great outpouring of support for my husband, and it touched our hearts and brought tears to our eyes on several occasions. One in particular spoke to me, and he truly felt for us in this situation. This individual gave my husband several job leads, which we greatly appreciated. Several others called him with job leads as well. My husband began contacting the people as suggested but wasn’t sure if there truly was a job need there at these places that were mentioned.
This week was especially difficult as we hadn’t heard anything from the leads from last week. I reminded my husband that it had only been a few days, and it would just take time. In the meantime, he signed up for unemployment benefits.
Along with losing his job, we were losing our health benefits. Sure, they offered COBRA, but no one can afford $1200 a month. Yes, that is per MONTH! How in the world do they expect us to pay that kind of money when he just lost his job? So, that was out of the question. We then had to go in search of affordable health insurance, which was no small task I’ll have you know!
To add to the stress we were all feeling, my oldest daughter went to take a placement test at a technical college, all that we will be able to afford now for sure, and failed that test. She had so much anxiety from everything going on that she got too nervous and just went blank. She felt just terrible afterwards, too, but there is an opportunity to take the test again in the future.
Also at that time, our youngest daughter came down with a 102 degree fever. To say we were stressed to the max is the understatement of the year! We took her to the doctor, and THANK GOD she did NOT have the flu! Whew!
After all of this, my husband finally just lost it. He went out into the yard and vented a little. No one can blame him, really, considering everything that has just happened. The man lost his job of 17 years. He’s entitled to let his feelings out.
He felt like he was hitting rock bottom, but you know what? God was right there at the bottom when he hit, and God lifted him right up. He scooped my husband up into His strong arms and allowed my husband to rest his weary head upon His shoulders.
Later, I told him that his former employer had already taken so much from us. We can’t let them do this to him … to us. We can’t let them dissolve our faith and leave us in a puddle of tears.
He got out his Joel Osteen daily devotional, and it talked of how doors were going to open for him. It was ironic that the message for that day said those words. The words he needed to hear right at that moment!
And what happened next floors us!
He got a call to come in to just talk to see if something could be worked out with a competitor. This guy had a working relationship with my husband in years past, but when he became a competitor, they were then competing against each other in the same line of work. They kept things friendly, but they could no longer speak at length since they were bidding on the same projects!
This call couldn’t have come at a better time! My husband was starting to lose hope very early on in this situation even though I told him repeatedly to cling to Jeremiah 29:11. I even prayed:
Dear Father, we KNOW that you have plans to prosper him and not to harm him. We KNOW that you have plans to give him a hope and a future. We CLAIM this right now in Your Holy Name! Amen
My husband did set up a meeting that afternoon, and he went in to speak at length with them to see how he could help them. He waited on pins and needles for a call back. The very next day, the phone rang, and it was this company saying that although they did not presently have a position open, they would MAKE ONE for him!
Again, we were overcome with shock and disbelief, but in a GOOD way!!!
They offered my husband a position that they are creating to help get caught up on a few projects. If, after a few months, my husband really likes the job and they like him, they will renegotiate for a more permanent position.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this was our GOD at work!
There is no other explanation for things to have transpired the way they did! From my husband being distraught last Wednesday to a week later … A WEEK … receiving a call that they were going to create a temporary position for him. We’ll take it!!! Oh thank you GOD!!!
The guy said that he could imagine the feelings of getting laid off were similar to that of going through a divorce. He said he wanted to help my husband and our family out, and I told my husband that I would hug that man right that minute if I could! 🙂
Immediately upon hearing the news, tears filled my eyes and spilled out all over my face as I praised God and thanked him repeatedly for what he had done for my husband and for our family! My husband said he dropped to his knees to thank God also!
My God answered prayer in lightning speed! And we are SO grateful!
God’s favor. That’s what it was.
God’s favor!
True Story, Bro!
Several years ago my fiancé and I decided to take a trip to Charleston. It was a place that we absolutely loved due to the history of the city as well as the beauty that you can feast your eyes upon in that holy city. From views at Battery Park of the harbor where you can watch the dolphins at play, to the cobblestone streets, to historic churches and even places like the haunted jail that has a story to tell. There is never a dull moment in this city! The beaches are so close that we have to hop on over to Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, or Isle of Palms when we’re in the area. It’s always worth the trip!
This wasn’t just any ole trip, though. On this trip, my fiancé intended to propose to me. I could tell several days leading up to this trip by the way he was acting and the things he was saying. Sure, we had talked about getting married “one day,” but he was Mr. Five-Year-Plan. I can laugh at that now. At the moment, though, I was not amused. Five years? Really? You want me to wait FIVE years? Hmmmm … my biological clock was ticking as I certainly wasn’t getting any younger, and he talked of wanting three children … and yet, he was saying he had a five year plan. Hmmmpht!
My daughter, from a previous marriage, was with us the day that he intended to pop the question. He wanted to be sure that she was present because she would very much be a part of our family. He wasn’t just marrying me. He was accepting my daughter into his heart and life as his very own daughter as well. This was huge for us! This little blonde haired, blue eyed girl was bouncing around every where. She had so much energy bottled up inside of her little five year old body.
My fiancé picked us up at our house and drove ever so nervously to Charleston. He did not have a lot to say on the way there as I later learned that he had butterflies in his stomach. He was a bundle of nerves for sure as halfway there, I rolled my window down somewhat and had my fingers still on top of the glass when he accidentally hit the button causing the window to roll up on my fingers. Ouch!!
Yep, this is a true story, bro!
He apologized profusely, but he just knew that wasn’t in his favor and that this proposal thing wasn’t going to go as he had originally planned. However, I got over the window incident and was determined that we were going to have a great day together.
It was just after Valentine’s Day in 2002, and the weather was perfect that afternoon. It wasn’t too cold, and it wasn’t too hot. It was JUST right!
We arrived at the Battery Park, and we started walking along the Charleston Harbor. We love looking at the houses on Rainbow Row also. As you can tell by the name, they are a variety of colors, and it just makes for a beautiful setting.
As we strolled along, I could sense him getting more nervous by the minute.
We walked further around the Battery Park and then over by the cannons that line the park. I climbed on the cannons with my daughter as we laughed and played. After that, we climbed the steps of the giant gazebo which was centered in the middle of the park. There is something so magical about this gazebo. While I have always loved the looks of a gazebo, this was the perfect setting under the mighty oak trees where many a weddings had taken place. I looked out over the harbor at the ocean lapping at the concrete wall while my daughter went up and down the gazebo steps about a million times. When I turned around, my fiancé was on his knee in front of me with his arms outstretched holding a little tiny black velvet box in his hand. I looked into his eyes, and about that time, my daughter had reached the final step, saw what was taking place, and let out a big gasp, then a squeal! Even at age five years old, she knew what this meant! He called her over to take her place beside me, and he asked for us to be his family.
Of course, I said YES!!! Swollen fingers and all. Just kidding on the swollen fingers part!
As we approach Valentine’s Day each year, my thoughts always go back to the day he proposed to … us. My daughter has been very much a part of us from the very beginning. He knew when we were dating that my daughter was my heart, and there was no way he was even meeting her until I knew for sure that he was going to be in my life for a long time. I did not believe in introducing my daughter to men that didn’t intend to stay. So, she would only meet him if he was to be a part of our future. When we grew serious in our relationship and I could see the direction this would take, I introduced them at that time. He has been a great father to her all of these years. My daughter is now 18 years old, and she still calls him “Daddy.” We were blessed with another daughter ten years ago, and she has completed our little family unit. We love both of our girls with all of our heart and soul. We thank God for sending his angels from Heaven for us to love and care for here on this earth. We are truly blessed!
This Valentine’s Day, think of something romantic that you can do with your spouse. Is there a special place that he took you when you were dating? Do you have a story like we do that will warm your heart and also make you laugh in the middle some where? If so, reminisce with your sweetie this Valentine’s Day. OR, better yet, pack a picnic and go back to that spot where he proposed to you to reflect on the memories that you hold near and dear to your heart. We have done this a few times through the years. It might be time for us to revisit with picnic basket in hand and our two darling daughters in tow.
Love. It is a beautiful thing!
Encourage Your Spouse
Maybe he feels defeated due to things beyond his control. Or, he just might feel a bit discouraged that things are not going as he had planned in other areas of his life aside from marriage. In times like these it is especially important to think of ways to encourage your spouse.
My husband and I had a hard day Monday. Our ten year old daughter started running a temperature of 102 degrees at school. Seeing as how we’ve heard so much about the flu running rampant in our state causing several deaths, we were greatly concerned when she complained of her head hurting, body aches, as well as vomiting. We took her to the doctor where, thank GOD, they determined that she does NOT have the flu. Praises, praises, and MORE praises to God above!! While that was one concern that was put to rest, we were still very much concerned with her symptoms and fever.
There were several other things coming at my husband that started last week and has the potential to threaten our future. When we all finally arrived at home Monday evening, he disappeared. I looked around in the house, but I did not see him right away. I figured he may have needed a minute and may have retreated to his emotional man cave. After a little while, though, my worry got the best of me, and I had to check on him. I tiptoed down the hallway to our room where the light was off, but I sensed that he was sitting there in the darkness. Sure enough, he was. I flipped the light on to find him sitting on the edge of our bed with his head in his hands. He was feeling a bit defeated due to recent events, so I just walked over to him and put my arms around him. He let out a big sigh, and I knew he was struggling at that moment. I held him for a few minutes, tightening my hold around him as I felt him deflate in my arms as he finally let go of what was bothering him. He spoke of his concerns, and while I don’t have all of the answers, I can reassure him with my love. No matter what is going on, we are in this together. We are a team, and we will walk this road hand in hand, side by side, a united front!
After a few minutes, he felt enough relief from his mental anguish to join me and our children at the dinner table. As we sat down to eat together as a family, we stretched our arms out to join hands as we always do. My husband bowed his head and began to pray. He prayed a simple, yet heartfelt prayer. God knows his struggles, and we also know that our GOD is bigger than any thing that comes at us that threatens to steal our joy. We know that we don’t have to walk this road alone, and we don’t have to try to figure all of this out. God was already there when this situation was unfolding, and while the fear of the unknown grabs us at time paralyzing us, God knows what the future holds. We just have to trust in God, and we DO … and we ARE … and we will CONTINUE to do so! I have often reminded my husband of a bible verse that I cling to in hard times:
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
If your spouse has had an extremely hard time as of late, reach out your hand and take theirs firmly in your own. Look them in the eye, and tell them that everything is going to be okay. Maybe not today … maybe not tomorrow … but it will. We have God’s assurance, and we are holding on to God’s word and His great and mighty hand!
How can you encourage your spouse today?
