Do you remember my post last week about how I was letting trying to get a BlogHer’ 10 ticket stress me out? If you do, then you’ll also remember that ultimately, I realized I had to give up my own desires and humble myself to whatever plans the Lord has for me.
How’s this for funny:
Day 1-3: Miriam is trying to get a BlogHer ticket.
Day 4: Miriam starts stressing out about not being able to get a BlogHer ticket.
Day 4 PM: Gil reminds Miriam to take a chill pill and have faith that things will happen as they should. Miriam relaxes and gives it up to Jesus.
Day 5: Miriam writes a post sharing her lessons about not stressing out.
Day 5 PM: Miriam gets an email asking if she wants to buy someone’s ticket – heck yizzah!
Later that night: Miriam purchases an early bird ticket! What’s important to note here is that I actually chased that Ebay bid up to $550. Good gracious that was a lot of money. Wasn’t it the Lord looking out or me that in the end, I was able to get a ticket for less than 2/3 of what that final ebay price was? Yes…yes it was!
Day 6: Get an email from BlogHer asking if I still needed a ticket, because if so, they would provide a ticket if I would volunteer some time.
Day 7: I get an email from a BlogHer exhibitor asking if I want a full conference pass for free, with no strings attached.
Obviously, I politely declined the subsequent offers of BlogHer tickets since I’d already purchased my pass. But I couldn’t help but sit back and just have a good chuckle at the way God works. For me, it goes to show that it is totally worth it to step back and look at how you’re approaching things. If it’s wrong, admit it, change it, and keep going. If for a moment you are off the Lord’s path, get back on and He will bless you.
In a lot of ways this could even be more of a testimony that had I waited on the Lord patiently, then I could have saved myself $200. That would’ve been great. But I also know that faith is something that I can grow in and accumulate more of. It’s something that I’ve been asking for – to recognize and realize my faith. For me, this is the Lord saying, “OK Miriam, I’m so happy that you decided to give it all up and to humble yourself to my will. And yes, it was a blessing that you were able to get an early bird ticket. Just know that with a little more faith in Me, I would have provided all things for you, better than you imagined.”
Even as I type that, I think that’s my next lesson from all of this – to not limit God with my expectations of how He can bless me. Be open to all possibilities and all things so that I can receive what He would have me receive AND have faith that He will provide. That’s my message for you today too. When you’re praying for help, don’t limit God in HOW to help you – just ask for His help, forgiveness, and guidance – and KNOW that he will answer your prayers, and probably with an answer you might not have even imagined.
Peace and Blessings,
Miriam
Once when I really needed a job that I knew how to do and could physically do, I just broke down and started crying to God. I told him that he knew how many interviews I had gone on, and that I hadn't got the job because of so many people in the town I live in hiring their cousins and drinking buddies etc., and not necessarily the person with the most experience and good work record. I told God I absolutely did not know what to do. I told that I needed a miracle from him. Know what? I did receive a miracle from God. That same week I got a phone call from an agency that said they had heard about me via word of mouth and that they wanted me to come on board with them. I got to work for them for almost six years. I hadn't gone in and applied for that job, they just heard about my work from previous people who had worked with me and knew they wanted me on board. The only reason my job ended was the children I was helping in this job, all advanced to the place where they no longer required pediatric ventilator nursing services. The agency also decided to no longer take on pediatric cases, as they were very hard for them to keep staffed with qualified nurses.
I also know the cases ended because God wanted me to stay home and take care of my own mother as she was dying. Which I did. Then my own health became worse (I have a genetic nerve/muscle problem) and so I never returned to the field because I know I can't keep up with the demands physically or even mentally anymore.
Yet, God has his own timing for everything and I'm just glad I saw a miracle happen in my own life and I didn't have to wait years to see it happen.
God is good.
Hi lfhpueblo,
I'll be honest that I pondered what to write back to your comment. I guess I didn't expect or realize that my testimony would encourage someone to share theirs, and it really touched me that you took the time to share with me how God has blessed and worked in your life. Thank you so much. 🙂
It is so wonderful that you saw a miracle and recognized it as such – even if His work meant an unexpected change for you. Know that the Lord is constantly working in our lives and is actually doing many miracles, even if we don't realize it.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. All things are possible through Christ who strengthens us. 🙂
Peace & Blessings,
Miriam.
P.S. Yes, he IS good!
Hey LFHPueblo,
Thanks for sharing your testimony. Hearing stories about how the Lord answers the prayers of those who ask never gets old and always warms the heart. It's a perfect example how all things are possible in the Lord, regardless of how the world does it. Probability doesn't matter when a person walks in faith and wisdom:) This applies to a job search or a health matter.
You will be remembered in my prayers. God bless.