Wednesday, March 19 Deuteronomy 3:22

Do not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.

WHAT GOD CAN ACCOMPLISH

I imagine that we have all encountered situations where some aspect of our life was in the control of people who definitely should not have had that power. It is hard not to be afraid in those situations, knowing that someone or something you hold dear is in their hands.

Some years ago I was working a job that I loved and believed in. It provided a service that was otherwise unavailable and was in high demand. There had been no cause for concern until we had a change of leadership at a high level. Two key people with proverbial hatchets in their hands reduced the program drastically, including eliminating my position. They moved me to a perpetually understaffed and struggling program, which was their excuse for gutting ours. The real motivators were, from what I was told, ego, lust for power, and sexism. I and others unsuccessfully attempted to say everything possible to change their minds. Our program was gutted, and I was moved, I assumed for good.

I had worked in the other program for about 18 months, when, one by one, changes were being made and barriers in my former program began to be removed. My prayer for persistence shifted to prayer about whether to reengage in the old battle. The two offending leaders would need to leave or be let go. Their replacements would need to have a different outlook and be open to input from me and others. They would have to find office space that did not exist. They would have to restore the position on the organizational chart, which is not easy given overstretched resources.

I spoke to the new leaders and watched as God removed one obstacle after another. The most miraculous one to me was that the former leaders had forgotten to eliminate the position that they had insisted needed to vanish. Another staff member (whose office was exactly where mine needed to be) left for another position. The new leaders were able to move me back without any financial or space concerns and were enthusiastic about the prospect.

I am blessed to be in that position still today. I do not understand why things happened the way they did, but I do trust that God was at work in it all. It was a difficult two years, but the privilege of seeing what God`s efforts can accomplish — in spite of the futility of my own — is something I will carry with me.

Dear Lord, please guide us in our efforts and in our ability to trust and rest in yours. Amen

Heidi Jensen

[Yesterday |Lenten Index | Tomorrow]