by Diana Ramirez
Hey there dear friends,
Praying and hoping all is well with you.
These past weeks have been so different with the whole social distancing, only being able to go out for essentials. Life as we knew it has been turned upside down. And to be brutally honest with you, I have enjoyed it. It made me take a step back and see just where I was spending so much of my energy on.
Being a single mom of 4 children, we were always on the go. My life started changing this past December with a new job I had gotten. And let me tell you, I at first asked God if He was even sure He wanted me to work here. This job was so different from what I had done in the past and it required me working until 8 PM, sometimes later. I had gone from getting off of work at 3 and then being unemployed and being able to do what I wanted. I was constantly at church and involved with whatever I could be involved in that I felt was my calling.
I started up a women’s monthly dinner last year, where we would come together for a word and have a nice dinner to be able to spend time with one another. I mean I felt like I was living. I could worship when I wanted, pray when I wanted without having to have work done or schedules or deadlines. So, when this job opportunity came up, I was so sure this is not what God would want for me. I mean why would He take me from praying constantly and being able to be involved in church, right?
Oh boy! That is when my season changed and it was so hard for me. At first I resisted it and just kept thinking how much I missed being around my loved ones and church family. And always hearing “well, we miss you and are praying for a better job” made me think that I was right for being pouty and asking God to change the situation ASAP.
At first, I was so upset and one night while praying to God I just asked Him to help me and change my perspective. I didn’t want to feel like I was missing out. I knew if He had me here it was for a reason and I was going to make the most of this season He had for me.
After that night my whole perspective changed. It is like God opened my eyes to see just how this job was an answered prayer. I had been focusing on the fact that I was working 7 days a week at 70 plus hours and how I didn’t have time to even see my children, much less my family. I didn’t see how this job had been an answer to my longing and prayers I had been praying to God the whole time.
Before, my jobs consisted of mainly interacting with employees and supervisors, not much more. This job I have now took me out of my comfort zone and I only had to interact with a couple co-workers and the rest was all the public and clients we had. I had been praying to God to use me in my community and to help me to pray and help those who were struggling. Now I know the whole being unemployed, being constant at church, constant praying and worshipping season had been to get me ready for this. I have meet so many people that I never even knew lived here. I have heard their stories, struggles and have been able to listen and pray with them. I have been able to just use all God had done for me and in me and actually pour it out to help others.
I mean, come on, that is what we are to do!!! I have never been happier and to think at first I was actually praying for this to end. So, when this whole COVID-19 thing came up, I knew it was just another season that God was inviting us to go deeper in. See, always being on the go with children we wouldn’t be able to have dinner together. They all had activities and if we waited till practices or games were over, we would be eating at 10 PM or later. This has scaled us back to spending time together. We have been able to eat dinner together consistently and just reconnect as a family. We have time to all get together and cook and clean. We have been praying more as a family and enjoying spending this quality time together. I mean, we literally spend all day together and somehow all always congregate to one room. It is just a time we are able to connect with God and let Him weed out whatever it is that isn’t supposed to be there. It’s in the secret place where we are able to hear from God and where our hearts are changed and formed into His likeness.
This virus is awful but if we were to change our perspective and just look at this through another lens we will be able to see how much God is working. After this may we not take working, going out for a run, going to eat, to church, to a movie for granted. May we remember that it all is a gift and even though it is hard or different it is working out for our good.
Today, dear friend, I pray that if you are struggling that God may come in and show you just how He is working. That you let Him in your heart and that you just stay still and listen to His small voice. This too shall pass and you will come out stronger and wiser.
Don’t sit there and wish this was all over. Take the time to spend time with God and let Him do what He needs to do. Let Him change your perspective through this.
Love you all and constantly praying for you.
Much love,
The Christian Blogger
If you need prayer, please contact christianblogger17@gmail.com. Also please be sure to listen to all the wonderful podcasts and other stories posted on power77radio.com!