W-1685 – Part I
Since her husband’s death a few years ago, Fran has had to assume both the role of mom and dad for her children, but God has graciously filled in the gaps with friends and family who are there for her. Being a young widow with a family to raise has been more than difficult at times, but through these years since Jim’s death, Fran has been learning new truths in her relationship with Jesus which she had never known before. She is truly learning to practice his presence at all times—to be more and more aware of his ever-abiding presence in her life and to truly seek his guidance for all decisions.
Today is Sunday and, as always, Fran and her two kids leave early for Sunday school and church. As she is walking into church, a good friend, John, stops her. John works for an executive placement firm.
“Fran,” he says, “I want to talk to you. I have a position that sounds just perfect for you! Can you have lunch with Annette and me today? We can talk about it. This client is really eager to get this position filled and I think you would find it a very good career move.”
Fran is taken by surprise. “Well, the kids have plans to go home with a couple of their friends, so there’s no reason I can’t,” she replies.
“Good,” John says. “We’ll meet you in the narthex after church.”
Wow, Fran thinks. What a coincidence that John should want to talk to me today and I have the afternoon free! How often does that happen? Maybe it’s not a coincidence, she thinks.
All through church she can’t get her mind off what John said. Wonder what kind of job he has? she thinks. Maybe it pays a lot more money. She begins to imagine all kinds of scenarios.
After church she sees the kids off with their friends and joins John and Annette at a nearby restaurant. After catching up on some small talk, John says, “Fran, one of my best clients is looking for a marketing manager with experience in advertising and publicity. I think your background is perfect for the job. Would you be willing to interview?”
“Marketing manager,” Fran remarks. “Tell me more about the company and the job.”
John paints a picture of a very successful company with excellent benefits. The position has lots of responsibility and she would report to a Vice President. The money would be about thirty percent more than she’s making now. It all sounds very good to Fran’s ears.
“I suppose I should explore this, John,” she says at last. “I mean, since it practically dropped into my lap, maybe it would be a good move. I could sure use the extra money.”
“Good, Fran,” John says. “Like I told you, this client is in a hurry to fill this position. If you can swing it, I’d like to set up an interview this week. Will that work for you?”
“This week?” That’s fast, Fran thinks. “There’s no critical issue at the office that I can think of so. . .yes, I guess I could make it this week.”
All afternoon Fran thinks about this new job. It sounds exciting. She’s ready for a new challenge. And the money would be great! In the midst of her excitement, she hears that still small voice that she has come to recognize as God’s prompting. “You haven’t prayed about this yet.”
I do need to pray about this, Fran thinks, but it sure seems like it must be of the Lord the way it has happened so far. Nonetheless, she’s learned enough to know that her feelings can often be misleading, so she sits down to pray before it’s time to pick up the kids.
“Lord, I’m really excited about the prospects of this new job. I mean, it’s neat to know that other organizations might find me valuable; it’s a little heady to have someone pursue me for a job. I remember how hard it was for me to find the job I have, so this is a nice turnaround. But Lord, I just simply want to tell you again that I want your will more than I want a new challenge, more money, or more power. Therefore, I need your wisdom to help me as I begin this interview process. Please speak clearly to me, and give me ears to hear you.”
“Also, Lord, I want to acknowledge that the success I have enjoyed is because of you, not me. Please keep me from ever taking credit for what you have done. Please help me to be ever mindful that my gifts and abilities are gifts from you and are to be used for your glory. Please keep me from pride and self-glory.”
After a time of prayer and meditation, Fran feels a great sense of peace as she once again turns the controls of her life over to the Lord. As she’s driving to pick up the kids, she talks out loud to the Lord: “You know, Lord, I guess I always thought that knowing your will for my life was like a big road map which I had to somehow discover. Once I did that, then I would know your will for the rest of my life. But I’m learning that doing your will is a daily thing. I have to continually relinquish my life and my decisions to you and let go of the controls. It’s not once and for all, is it? It’s seeking your will every day. Well, I sure want to know your will about this, Lord.”
But as she goes to sleep that night, she has to admit that visions of additional income and a new challenge sure look good to her. It seems like this new job could be a gift from God. She’s so excited about it that she has a hard time going to sleep.
The next day she e-mails her resume to John first thing, like she promised. He calls her before noon to tell her that the client definitely wants to talk with her. The interview is set for Wednesday afternoon, and he gives her the particulars of where to be and whom to see. The offices are much further from her home and Fran calculates that it would increase her commute time by probably an hour a day. “Oh well,” she says out loud to herself, “if it’s a lot better job with more money, I can manage the extra commute.”
Fran finds it difficult to keep her mind focused on her work since she set up the interview. Maybe I should go buy a new outfit, she thinks, but then realizes that she has plenty of appropriate clothes to wear and doesn’t need the added expense.
All day Tuesday she fights to keep focused on her work. She can’t help thinking about the interview, going through some basic instructions in her own mind about what to say and what not to say, and getting herself primed for the Wednesday appointment.
On Wednesday morning she prays before leaving home. “Lord, I didn’t ask for this interview, so I have to assume that it came from you. Please help me to do my best and give me wisdom and discernment as I consider this job change,” she prays.
She calls her mom at noontime. “Mom, don’t forget to pray for me today. The interview is at 2:00. Yeah, I know, Mom—take it easy, don’t rush into anything. Don’t worry; I won’t.” Fran’s mom knows her too well; she knows that Fran can sometimes get carried away and make a fast decision that is not always a good one.
As she drives to the interview, she thinks of what her mom said to her. Once again, she talks out loud to the Lord while driving. “Lord, as much as I hate to admit it, my mom is right. I tend to get carried away very easily and make hasty decisions that are often not good ones. Please help me not to do that.”
She remembers a verse from Proverbs 19 which God has often used to speak to her: “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way” (Proverbs 19:2). Zeal without knowledge, she thinks. That’s a pretty good description of me sometimes. Once again she prays, “Lord, please keep me from having zeal without knowledge; I don’t want to be hasty and miss your way.”
The interview goes very well; Fran can tell she made a good first impression. They want her to talk with two other people at higher levels—another Vice President and the President. Could she come back tomorrow morning? they ask.
Fran checks her calendar on her phone and remembers that she has a client meeting tomorrow. She asks, “Would it be possible to schedule these interviews after hours? I have some commitments at work tomorrow and I don’t think it would be right to short-change my client.”
The interviewer seems a little perturbed. “Well, I don’t know. . . .”
“I realize that is a little inconvenient, but I have obligations to my current employer which I don’t want to neglect. I hope you understand,” Fran explains.
After a few phone calls, he is able to schedule late afternoon interviews for her on Thursday. Fran wonders if she has hurt her chances by making such a request, but she feels it was the right thing to do.
On Thursday evening, she arranges for her mom to pick up the kids and she returns for two more intensive interviews. She finds it heady stuff to be talking to the highest levels of the firm. Though it is smaller than her present company, she thinks she’d rather be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.
The President says to her, “I don’t usually grant after-hour interviews, Fran, but I have to tell you the truth: I found your request impressive. I liked the fact that your commitment to your current employer took priority over your own agenda. That’s the kind of person we want here at our company. We want people who are sold-out to doing a good job for our clients, whatever it takes. I think you must be that kind of person.”
“Well, I certainly believe I have an obligation to meet my commitments and give my employer a good day’s work,” Fran replies. But as she leaves his office, she wonders just how much he would expect from her if she took this job. It puts a bee in her bonnet.
Again that evening she prays that God will give her wisdom. “Lord, if this is not the right opportunity for me, then I would pray that you would keep them from even making me an offer.”
She thinks about that prayer afterwards. Maybe it was not right to pray for a sign like that, she thinks. I was thinking that if they offer me the job, I will assume it is from the Lord. I don’t think that is the way I should pray. So she prays again: “Lord, even if they do offer me the job, give me ears to hear your voice and know your will. Again, help me not to be hasty and miss your way.”
Will they offer Fran the job? And if so, how will she know whether or not it is God’s will for her to take it? We all have situations like this where we are faced with a decision that is not black and white; it’s not that one decision would be evil and the other righteous. We truly have to be willing to seek God’s will and hear his voice. That’s always a challenge, isn’t it? How do we sort out our own desires from what the Lord wants?
I encourage you to know that God wants you to know his will for you in any particular situation even more than you want to know it. He’s not playing hide and seek with you! The first thing you do is to seek his will in his word. More often than not, he will speak to you through scripture. Then because you have the Holy Spirit in you as a believer, he also speaks through your mind and your thoughts, provided, of course, they are Spirit controlled.
Also, remember this: God’s will for your life is not one specific path you must find and take and, if you miss it, you’re doomed to live out of God’s will. God is far more concerned with who you are than where you are. Certainly, Fran wants to make the best choice for herself and her family, and she wants to have that peaceful assurance that she is making the best choice. But even if she makes a mistake and later feels it wasn’t the best move, God can still bless and use her even then.