What is the purpose for waiting? (Part 2)

At times I’ve been incredibly frustrated with waiting.  If I want something, I don’t want to have to wait for it.  When I’m hungry, I want to eat right away.  When I’m lonely, I want to surround myself with friends, immediately.  And when I’m broke and jobless, I want a job and an income.  Arg… I don’t like this impatient part of me.

For about 5 months now, I’ve been applying for jobs, and was hoping that I would have a solid job offer as I graduated from university.  I’ve had a handful of interviews, but as I finished off my degree I hadn’t had a single offer.  I was praying, but starting to doubt that God would provide.

In the midst of that I was able to say “God is so good”.  I know that I have been waiting and experiencing that frustration for a reason.  I believe that God wanted me to wait for several reasons:

(1)   So that I would rely on Him. 

At times in my job search, I was expecting to get hired because of my skills, my talents, my awesomeness. Those things are factors in getting a job, but not everything.  Ultimately, what God wants goes.  If God wants me to take a particular job, then the job offer will be there.  In the same way, if he doesn’t want me to have a job, then he is able to take away the opportunity (or not present it in the first place).

At times of disappointment I was reminded that the opportunity would come if it was in God’s plan for me.  And I was reminded of my past, in times that I’ve had to wait for him.  When he finally provided, it was so perfectly suited to me and the timing was perfect. 

(2)   So that I would realize my love of money. 

While waiting and searching for jobs, I struggled with how I would pay my bills.  I worried.   I got anxious.  I considered taking any crummy part-time job.  I considered moving back in with my mom… until God miraculously provided in this area, enough to pay my bills for another 2 months.

(3)   So that I would be made aware of my need for security.

I am almost ashamed of what I felt at times.  I felt so lost and empty and purposeless, as I didn’t have anything to look forward to, or anything to work for, during this time.  There were days when I just felt I had nothing to cling to.  My future was so uncertain, unclear, insecure.  In the end I am so blown away by God.  When everything seemed out of control, he filled the voids in my heart, and gave me such a clear sense of stability and peace.

(4)   So that he would be glorified.

He provided an awesome job.  It’s a technical writing position, full-time, located in Montreal, with a great company.  I’m super excited about the projects that they are currently working on: smart cameras, video editing software and hardware and more.  Technical writing will give me a lot of experience.  I’ll be exposed to all of the engineering divisions within the company, and will lead to future opportunities.  Plus the timing is perfect. I’ve been out of school and unemployed for just over a month, and it was just the amount of time I needed to rest and refocus.

I could go on about the great things about this job opportunity… God is just so good.

Only God knew what I needed.  He knew my money-loving heart needed a good shock back to hoping in Jesus, and not in my money.  He knew that my self-worth was in my security and my status as an engineering student.  He knew that the only way I would rely on him was to wait for 5 months before being offered anything.

He also knows what I enjoy; I am so excited to work alongside engineers who do exactly what I see myself doing in a few years. 

He knows where I can be a light for him, and so I am confident that this job is where I am meant to be for the time being.