Day 20

Fraser Speirs | Re:Hope West End

Just before Easter this year, I became aware that I was going to need to find a new job. There seemed to be no way out of it, and there wasn’t.

I understood that God was challenging me regarding my trust in Him. The phrase that kept coming to mind was: “Do you really trust God, or do you just trust in your own ability to middle-class your way out of things?”

There were a lot of internal lessons I had to learn during this time. Anyone losing their job thinks they’re being treated very unfairly, but going through that feeling during the weekend of Easter was pretty humbling — however victimised you feel, you’re not a bigger victim than Christ.

I was re-reading the Sermon on the Mount one day during Holy Week and read again that Jesus teaches:

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.  Matthew 5:39-40

We are normally happy to apply that to children’s disputes in the playground but as adults we often want to satisfy our pride or hurt feelings or get some kind of revenge. I believe that what Christ teaches in this passage is not for the purpose of ‘letting bad people off with it’ or ‘making society less conflicted,’ but His teaching is to make your life better — regardless of what happens externally. Forgiveness is there to heal your inner state, not for the benefit of the other party.

Instead of fighting the process I decided to settle the matter quickly, but finding a new job was a whole new experience. It was a time of prayer and some patience. The patience was harder than the prayer. We prayed each night for the right job that paid well enough to maintain our living situation without having to relocate (and also that I wouldn't have to manage people!). I also prayed that I would have an opportunity to use my technical skills in a way that helped people and made the world a better place.

Just in time to submit this story, I was offered a job at a very senior development level with an organisation that publishes online Computer Science courses for schools. This job ticks every box I prayed for.

I’m grateful to God for this new opportunity, but even more for the lessons that I got to learn through the process. I’m also grateful for faithful friends in our Bible Read Through group who prayed alongside me through this. Finally, I’m grateful for my brothers in the church who would ask how I was getting on each week with genuine interest and care. Most men today don’t have other men around them who will support them in such times.

Heather Morton | Re:Hope Southside

Four years ago my marriage broke down and I was forced to leave the family home. My daughter came with me and my son stayed with his dad. I felt under attack in so many ways. My relationship was broken with my son, had financial worries, and was renting a flat and relying on others to help furnish it. 

Finally, I felt that my prayers were being answered, and I had reserved a new house; I was close to signing and settling things with my ex husband. But then my 17 year old son got diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Trusting God, my son got healed and I signed the paperwork and moved into my new house last July. God was there throughout my situation.

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Pray for God’s restorative power to come and impact an area of brokenness today.