The Work Story

When it rains, it pours, right? I am ready to tell you about another of the stories I've been sitting with for quite a while! Last week, I told you about a bit of a hard chapter I've been living recently, and today I have the completion of another story to share. This one has been both a long time coming and also...very fast.

As you know, when we left WillowBridge almost seven months ago, we were in conversations with an organization about jobs. The Lord ended up closing that door for both of us after a period of a few months, and we trust Him with that. Ryan was hired by Love INC, and I continued to look for work.

Throughout the summer, I applied for many jobs and talked to companies about employment, but nothing ever came to fruition. And the longer that went on, the harder it became on my heart. It's humbling, for sure, to live in a time when everyone is hiring and yet no one will hire you. It would be extremely fair to say that my confidence in any and every skill I possess plummeted because of this. I haven't talked about it at length on the blog partly because I didn't want appear to be having a pity party and partly because this was a very intense season of wrestling with my level of trust and faith. It was a personal piece of life that went far beyond the boundaries of whether or not I had a job. It was a season of wild grasping to remember and truly believe my worth wasn't found in work or the lack thereof.

As I shared a while ago, Ryan ended up "hiring" me to work with and for him at Love INC, but unfortunately the budget did not allow for me to be a paid employee. I love working with him and believe wholeheartedly in the work he's doing, and I am beyond grateful that he saw in me the ability to be part of his staff. That actually may have been the main thing that kept me afloat throughout these past few months. I may not have been bringing in a paycheck, but it felt good to be able to use my gifts and skills in ways that mattered. And of course, you know that we love working together, so that was fun!

But the truth of it is, the cost of living has gone up dramatically in the last seven months. We can't survive forever in our current situation. And finances aside, I had a heart-need to be able to be part of this family's work force. I continued looking and praying. I didn't make it a goal to find a job, because ultimately the choice isn't up to me. But I did make it a matter of serious prayer. I brought our need, both current and future, before the Lord and asked Him to open a door in whatever place He saw fit at whatever time He saw fit. (That is an easier prayer to say than to live, you know.)

When God closed the door for me to write a book, I knew I needed to increase my job search again. Because I wouldn't be writing a book in the immediate future, my days would be open to work regular hours. See? Even in the hard of a no, there was clarity in knowing what I could potentially do in the months to come.

So, on the last day of September, I sat at our kitchen table, working on our meal plan and grocery list. We were headed to Fort Wayne on Saturday, October 1, for a one-year-old's birthday party, and while we were there, we planned to stock up at Aldi. As I worked on my plan, I toggled around to different recipe sites on my computer. In my toggling, I grabbed the wrong tab and ended up on Facebook. Right there in front of my face was a post from a sweet friend of mine (from my WBCL days) sharing that her workplace was hiring.

I clicked on the link and scrolled to see if any of the jobs were remote. While the organization is within driving distance, it's far enough to be officially considered commuting, and we've already been that family. Commuting life just isn't the best fit for us. Seeing nothing, I sent her a private message and told her that if anything ever came up there that was remote, I'd be interested in applying.

She answered fairly quickly and said she thought one of the jobs - with a writing emphasis, no less - could be remote or hybrid. She would check, she said. And she did! She responded and encouraged me to apply. 

I was supposed to meet up with my friend Julie that afternoon, so she could help me with the Love INC website, but she ended up having a schedule change, and it just wasn't going to be the best time. Sounded to me like God just cleared my schedule to apply for a job! So, I launched in and filled out the application. I submitted it later that afternoon and sat back to wait. 

Surprisingly, I received an email Monday evening. (As in three days after I applied, with two of those days being a weekend.) The email asked about an interview! I looked over my planner and sent in some potential days. Two of them were for that same week and the rest were for the following week. Tuesday morning, I received a response that said, "It's a fast turnaround, but can we do tomorrow morning?" 

Of course we can! And immediately my prayers changed to "Please let me find an appropriate outfit in less than 24 hours in a town with only a Walmart and one clothing store."

On our engagementversary, while Ryan was at work, I headed out to find an interview outfit. And praise the Lord, I FOUND ONE! 

The next morning, which was five actual days after even learning about the job, I headed out for my interview. I had the most BEAUTIFUL day to drive. Leaves had really started to pop, and it was all just so very pretty.

People always ask how interviews go, and I never know how to answer. My perception could be very different from the interviewer's perception! But I knew I came away from that interview having given it all I had. I knew it had been an enjoyable experience for me, and I hoped it had been for her as well!

She told me she would be in touch the following week, so I sat back to wait, pray, and consider. Ryan and I talked about the possibilities before us, and I knew my thoughts and answers, should they offer me the job. 

I had incredible peace throughout the week that I waited. I didn't know what the outcome would be, but I felt calm about it. I didn't end up hearing anything during that week, but the Monday morning right after it, my phone rang, mid-morning. Ryan and I just "happened" to have a meeting that morning, so we were together. I looked at the phone, read the town associated with the number, and said to Ryan, "I think this is it!" 

I took the call, and indeed, they offered me the job! I accepted with such a grateful heart. 

What is the job, you might ask? I am going to be the Grants Administrator for a nonprofit that I've actually crossed paths with before! I did some writing for them (freelance) a few years ago in conjunction with an anniversary they celebrated. I'll be working partly from home, but going into the office some, so it will be considered hybrid work. As with nearly every job I've ever had, this position will give me the opportunity to use my gifts and skills, but it will also give me the opportunity to learn many new skills, and I am excited for that. 

The Lord has gone before me in this story probably in a dozen more ways than I even know. I am sure that ALL of the closed doors up to this point have been a protection of sorts to position me to be ready for this door. Perhaps He has spared me from jobs that wouldn't have been as good of a fit as I thought they might be. And there could be even more reasons I don't yet know that comprise a beautiful story. 

But I do know that I am so thankful the call came in right when I was with Ryan. We were together for only about an hour during that day, and THAT is when the call arrived. He was able to hear me say yes and celebrate with me right there. What a gift! And the timing of when I will start is also a gift. Because of their timetable and some of my own conflicts that were already on the calendar, I won't be starting until December. That will actually allow me to have some time to complete a couple of big projects that will make life easier when they are done, and I can wrap up some other smaller loose ends. I hadn't even prayed for that kind of timing gift, but God gave it! I am excited!

And as a side note, I'll continue being an active part of Ryan's work at Love INC. His work was part of the interview conversation, actually. There is a Love INC affiliate in the town where I'll be working, and the person who interviewed me (who will be my supervisor) was very familiar with it. She was excited that he is the director of another affiliate and talked about ways nonprofits should stick together to encourage each other. That was SO comforting to me. My new work will be much more traditional in hours, so I can use evening and weekend time to continue the behind-the-scenes work I do for Ryan.

And so, a long season of another story has reached its completion. A new season begins, of course, as I start this job in a few weeks, but the long season of waiting and searching has come to an end. So many of you have left encouraging notes for me here on the blog or in emails and texts...thank you for that! Thank you for believing in me and helping propel me forward during the wait!