Do you ever put words into God's mouth? Do you pretend like He's telling you something when maybe He's really not? Or do you get super excited about a possibility and tell yourself, "Yes, I believe this is the plan that God has for me!" Maybe it's just me that does this, not you.
I have been absolutely overwhelmed with career possibilities, job opportunities, going back to school and such since we moved out here. I have prayed about it, pondered over it and did lots of Google searches. But what if I have it wrong? What if I'm putting my two cents in and NOT listening to what God is telling me?
For the past month or two, I've been consumed by becoming a financial adviser. Anything in the financial world, really. I've even applied for secretarial positions at financial firms just to get my foot in the door. And I got nothing. I seriously thought my life plan was to become a financial adviser. Do you know what financial advisers do? I do, because I've researched...I've done phone interviews...and heck, we even have a financial adviser and it still didn't sink it. They sell stuff...they are salespeople! Mutual funds, stocks, investments, insurance. Is that what I desire to do? Is that my passion? 100% NO! That's not even close to what I want to do! I talked on the phone to a recruiter for a financial company out here last week...I told her what I want to do. Her words, plain and simple were, "That's a wonderful thing and a valuable thing, but you won't make any money doing that. That's not what we do here." At first, I was mad, disappointed and really frustrated. So my impatient self says, "Well, back to square one God...I thought this was what You wanted and now what the heck do You want me to do here????"
Let me just tell you what I want to do so you aren't in the dark here. I want to help people with their finances. I want them to come to me with their bills and their income. I want to sit down with them and work together to create a budget. I want to get them out of debt and show them how to use their money for the Lord. I want to TEACH them personal finance tools, TEACH them how to use their money and TEACH them that they can be free from financial baggage. I don't want to sell things to them. I don't want people who have money to invest, I want to help people who struggle to pay their bills and who want guidance in the financial realm. Is that what a financial adviser does? Not so much. Not the type I've found anyway.
I have talked with a good friend who mentioned that maybe this passion of mine isn't a career...maybe it's a ministry. Maybe that's where God wants to use me in His ministry, serving Him. I am a teacher, I want to educate people...not sell them things. There's an opportunity that has been presented to me to possibly do exactly what I mentioned above through a new program at our church. I've known about it for a week or two, but didn't even realize that maybe I should be satisfied with that. Fulfilling my passion through a ministry, not through a career path. And if this ministry turns into a career, then wonderful! And if not, I'll continue to serve my Lord through the passion He has blessed me with and also continue to search for a better job.
I just know that I should be happy where I am. I have a job that pays the bills. Luke and I are happy here, we are both healthy and our marriage has only been strengthened through the past few months. I shouldn't worry or care about what I do for a living. I should only care about what I'm doing for the Lord. I believe that He is calling me to help people financially. I believe this is a ministry tool that is lacking in our country. I believe that people would use these types of services if they were offered. And truthfully, I am confident that I possess the knowledge, experience and passion to make this happen.
Jesus, please use me here...show me where You want me...provide me with the wisdom and discernment to figure out how to make this passion of mine a reality. Jesus, please take away the worry of my career "status," help me not to cringe when people ask what I do for a living. Help me to proudly announce that I am working for the Lord, serving Him through my job at Olive Garden, while also seeking new and exciting ministry opportunities. God, I thank you so much for the jobs you have provided for Luke and I...for the friends we have made here...and just for the ability to simply move here. You are an amazing God and I know this adventure I'm on will be one that I won't want to miss. In Your precious Son's name, Amen.
I have been absolutely overwhelmed with career possibilities, job opportunities, going back to school and such since we moved out here. I have prayed about it, pondered over it and did lots of Google searches. But what if I have it wrong? What if I'm putting my two cents in and NOT listening to what God is telling me?
For the past month or two, I've been consumed by becoming a financial adviser. Anything in the financial world, really. I've even applied for secretarial positions at financial firms just to get my foot in the door. And I got nothing. I seriously thought my life plan was to become a financial adviser. Do you know what financial advisers do? I do, because I've researched...I've done phone interviews...and heck, we even have a financial adviser and it still didn't sink it. They sell stuff...they are salespeople! Mutual funds, stocks, investments, insurance. Is that what I desire to do? Is that my passion? 100% NO! That's not even close to what I want to do! I talked on the phone to a recruiter for a financial company out here last week...I told her what I want to do. Her words, plain and simple were, "That's a wonderful thing and a valuable thing, but you won't make any money doing that. That's not what we do here." At first, I was mad, disappointed and really frustrated. So my impatient self says, "Well, back to square one God...I thought this was what You wanted and now what the heck do You want me to do here????"
Let me just tell you what I want to do so you aren't in the dark here. I want to help people with their finances. I want them to come to me with their bills and their income. I want to sit down with them and work together to create a budget. I want to get them out of debt and show them how to use their money for the Lord. I want to TEACH them personal finance tools, TEACH them how to use their money and TEACH them that they can be free from financial baggage. I don't want to sell things to them. I don't want people who have money to invest, I want to help people who struggle to pay their bills and who want guidance in the financial realm. Is that what a financial adviser does? Not so much. Not the type I've found anyway.
I have talked with a good friend who mentioned that maybe this passion of mine isn't a career...maybe it's a ministry. Maybe that's where God wants to use me in His ministry, serving Him. I am a teacher, I want to educate people...not sell them things. There's an opportunity that has been presented to me to possibly do exactly what I mentioned above through a new program at our church. I've known about it for a week or two, but didn't even realize that maybe I should be satisfied with that. Fulfilling my passion through a ministry, not through a career path. And if this ministry turns into a career, then wonderful! And if not, I'll continue to serve my Lord through the passion He has blessed me with and also continue to search for a better job.
I just know that I should be happy where I am. I have a job that pays the bills. Luke and I are happy here, we are both healthy and our marriage has only been strengthened through the past few months. I shouldn't worry or care about what I do for a living. I should only care about what I'm doing for the Lord. I believe that He is calling me to help people financially. I believe this is a ministry tool that is lacking in our country. I believe that people would use these types of services if they were offered. And truthfully, I am confident that I possess the knowledge, experience and passion to make this happen.
Jesus, please use me here...show me where You want me...provide me with the wisdom and discernment to figure out how to make this passion of mine a reality. Jesus, please take away the worry of my career "status," help me not to cringe when people ask what I do for a living. Help me to proudly announce that I am working for the Lord, serving Him through my job at Olive Garden, while also seeking new and exciting ministry opportunities. God, I thank you so much for the jobs you have provided for Luke and I...for the friends we have made here...and just for the ability to simply move here. You are an amazing God and I know this adventure I'm on will be one that I won't want to miss. In Your precious Son's name, Amen.
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