Find Victory This Year with 4 Secure and Sturdy Steps
I lost my job in March.
I’ve kind of alluded to it quietly in the background here a few times over the last few weeks, but today I am finally ready to talk about it openly.
I am currently unemployed. This means I am spending a great deal of time in my pajamas and fuzzy socks.
Confession: I am not really that upset about it today. I have had some time to process.
On my unexpected last day of employment, I called my husband to let him know I’d need his strong arms to help me carry several boxes and my broken heart home. He arrived 90 minutes later carrying empty containers and a great deal of wisdom.
“So, what?” he said. “See, now you are a writer.”
I was not amused. Sure, I love writing here in this space and for Love God Greatly and now for First 5. I love teaching the Word and and encouraging weary women to stay in the fight.
But, I also love my 401K, my health insurance, and my bank account. I’ve worked at a 9 to 5 job every day for 29 years. Losing my job due to budget cutbacks at the university felt like a failure to me in every way.
Sometimes you need a little nudge to step forward in faith. I like to call it a divine kick in the pants. God knew I’d never quit my job to actually do what made my heart come alive, so He just handled that for me.
God is not really interested in my comfort.
So, my friends, I am an unemployed writer, and I’ve never been happier in my life. I am also fighting fear on a daily basis and asking God to help me walk forward with His help.
I am sharing my very scary God story in case you are currently sitting in your living room reading this and relating to my fear of the unknown. Perhaps you are wondering “What on earth is God doing by allowing this to happen to me?” Maybe your marriage is ending, or your prodigal child has not called you in 4 weeks. Perhaps you are single and wondering why God doesn’t send you a husband like yesterday. Life in this broken world is heartbreaking some days.
How do we move from victim to victory? I’ve discovered a few things over the last 8 weeks, and I want to share them with you today. Keep in mind that although these 4 steps are simple to say, they are hard to live out. Moving toward freedom in Christ means we can’t hide out in our pajamas forever. At some point, we must get up off the couch and put on our big girl pants.
4 Secure and Sturdy Steps to Victory
Leave behind condemnation
Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy of your soul. Greater things are yet to come. God is not finished fulfilling His faithful promises in your life.
“With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2, MSG)
Turn from regret
Take time to grieve your losses, but don’t over linger in your sorrow. Today is a new day with new hope. Don’t miss out on the beauty that lies ahead because you are looking back at the brokenness of yesterday.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV)
Stand in Surrender
Open up your heart to whatever God has for you ahead. View every day as an opportunity to partner with Him and walk through new doors with hands and heart open and ready to receive. He can’t fill your life with good things if you don’t lift up empty hands to Him.
“I will lift up my hands toward Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes. Remember Your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life.” (Psalm 119:48-50, ESV).
Move with Trust
You can move forward fully trusting that God holds your tomorrow. He goes before you, and every step you take is covered by His grace. As you wait for clear direction, worship the One who will speak and reveal His wonderful plans to you very soon. If it’s quiet in your life right now, remember to be still and listen for His voice. This season of waiting is where you will see His face in a fresh way.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)
To help you get started on this journey toward surrender, I’m sharing a copy of my 30-Day Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to strengthen your step and breathe fresh wind into your weary spirit.
As we surrender our circumstances to Christ, He will step in with His peace and perfect our faith. Every inch we move forward in His direction with arms uplifted and ready to receive will be ground we can claim on our path to victory. He will reveal Himself to us in the quiet as we wait and remind us He is in control. One day soon, we will look back and see how His goodness and glory were at work during a very difficult season.
Walk forward in worship trusting your God knows the way.
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ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?
I’ve been there. Faith is scary good and these divine kicks are sometimes just what we need. I know that you will be all right and this season and the outcome may surprise you. Don’t spend too much time in your pajamas though as it sometimes limits your productivity.
Also, benefits are nice but God always provides!
I’m rooting for you as you embark on your writing career.
Lyli, these 4 steps are pure gold speaking loud to my soul today, my friend. I so appreciate your faith-filled, inspiring teaching always. And this cracked me up: ” a divine kick in the pants.”
In some ways you and I are on similar journeys. As I wrap up my time here, I’m not quite sure what awaits! But I’m trusting.
Sometimes God “intrudes” on our lives in ways we could never have foreseen! Wow, praying for you as you make this transition into Full-time writing and teaching. I love your husband’s attitude! What a guy!
Lyli, this is lovely in every way–hope-filled, honest, and encouraging to the soul of the reader. Thank you. Isaiah 43: 18 – 19 is a favorite. I always smile (or sigh or something) when I come across it in other people’s writing. Waiting seasons are hard. I appreciate the way you are approaching yours. I totally wasted my last big waiting season looking at my emotions and my circumstances rather than at what God was doing. Seeing people wait well gives me hope.
Wow, Lyli, I appreciate your honesty. You write for the First 5 app…amazing! So happy that you’re happy. I’ve been self-employed for most of my adult years, which makes me less attached to work benefits than others. I understand how self-employment creates a closer dependence on God to meet your needs. Blessings to you in this new journey, friend!
Lyli, so sorry about your job loss. I know all too well. I’d worked for a company in Nashville when we moved to our current city to plant a church. I came up with the idea to work for them telecommute from home. And I did for nearly 10 years. I even worked in PJ’s some mornings or sweat pants late into the day. 🙂 Then I was caught in a corporate layoff within a year of the company being acquired. Like you, I struggled with the unknown and trust issues. I found other jobs to work from home that were “contract.” So every time they dissolved the contract, I was unemployed again. One day, my writing mentor said something similar to your husband, “More time to write.” I reflected on God allowing things to happen and even orchestrating some things to happen for our good. Nothing is coincidence. God’s never surprised or caught off guard. And the best part? He’s always working behind the scenes on my behalf and on your behalf. Praying for you as you continue to walk in this new place on the journey that you trust His heart and His hand.
Lyli,
Way to be brave and share your story with everyone. I’m blessed to have been able to pray for you through this season and I LOVE what you are allowing God to do in your heart. Hugs my friend.
Hi Lyli, Thank you for sharing your story with us. It is so inspiring and heartfelt. The last few months I’ve felt that God is funneling me into a new thing. What that is exactly I don’t know. But it’s wonderful and scary at the same time. These 4 steps to victory are a big encouragement. I especially love this… “View every day as an opportunity to partner with Him and walk through new doors with hands and heart open and ready to receive.” Saying a prayer for you as you continue this journey God has started in your life. God bless!
You’ve got quite the husband! I’m also unemployed, writing in robe and socks, often. But it’s by choice so different fears. You will be better as you continue to trust deeper. You already know that’s how it works. But I want to encourage you: you are where you need to be because you obey and love God. That’s it. Love to recommend a great series on Exodus: Reality SF messages. So enjoying. My daugher’s church. (: PS Your blogs are rich with content, organized and personal. So group them by topics, and write several books. You probably are already doing that. Bless you!
Oh Lyli, I am so sorry about your job, but I second your husbands comment – You are a writer! And congrats on writing for First5 too!!!! That is fantastic 🙂 Thanks for the linkup today and for sharing about your tough season. Often times God closes one door, but he throws many more wide open! sometimes it’s so He can get us to do what we have been hesitant to do, and other times…. well, in the end He turns it all around for His good! Blessings to you and enjoy your weekend. 🙂
Lyli, these four steps are so good. We can acknowledge our sadness or grief or whatever it is, but then we need to move on in trust that God knows what He is doing and will continue to lead and stay with us. Blessings to you!
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your job, Lyli. But I know God will continue to open up new doors for you, things that you wouldn’t have had time for with a full-time job. Blessings to you as you walk in faith into this new adventure!
Praying for you in this next stage of life. I have no doubt that God will blow the doors off of your expectations and use you in amazing ways. laurensparks.net
It always amazes me how fear and faith, sorrow and joy can so successfully mingle. May you find this season to be one of freedom and anticipation.
I’m cheering from the sidelines …