By Faith

Hebrews 11:17

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring^b will be reckoned.”^c 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

God is working on us! And in us! And all around us!

The job search for me has ended.  And it has not ended with a teaching position!

After seven, SEVEN interviews last week, I was not offered one single teaching position! Now, for someone who has never interviewed for a job I didn't get, this was quite a blow to my ego! Also, as someone who had felt very strongly that God was leading us to that path, it was frustrating, confusing, and honestly, quite anger inducing.

I cried over it.  I prayed over it.  And God sent me some comfort in those verses above.

Now I am very well aware that no one has asked me to sacrifice my child.  

But, in this world that I live in, I was being asked to give up just about everything that I loved.  Staying home, homeschooling my children, raising the baby through her toddlerhood, being the stay at home mom and wife, and just fulfilling that role to the fullest in the way that we, as a family, had come to appreciate and enjoy.

And it wasn't enough for us to just *say* that we would be willing to give all that up.  It wasn't enough for us to just say that we would be willing to leave our family and friends, to uproot the children, to switch the family roles, and to sacrifice all the lifestyle choices we love.

No.  We had to act upon it. 

We had to almost get there, almost to the point of DOING it.  We spent money on the venture, trusting God that He would provide if it was the right thing, we spent time and tiresome travel with a toddler, I spent hours on the computer, contacted old references, paid to apply for a Florida teaching certificate, etc.  We were on board 100% with this path because we wanted to be obedient and we felt God was calling us to this path at this point in our lives. We weren't just saying we would be willing, we were willing and able and active.

And so was God.

He actively, loudly, and purposefully shut seven doors.

And this isn't meant to sound like a pat on the back or an ego boost, but I did not blow seven interviews.  There is no reason why, out of seven possible jobs, one in particular at a school that was in high need of anyone to fill the classroom, that I wouldn't get one single job offer.  Except that God has a better plan. And He wanted to know that we *would have* sacrificed in order to be obedient.

If I was in any doubt that He was out there somewhere paying attention or even listening, I had no doubt of that after hearing this loud and affirmative "not that way" answer.

He is acting in this situation and has a great plan in store.  

I feel released from this plan.  It was a good one, and one we will never forget, how He turned the tables in our situation, who knows that we won't look back on this time as a Purim of sorts, God turning the tables in our situation, completely reversing our situation from one of confusion and uncertainty to one of joy and celebration!

God is working! Even in His "no."

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

I look forward to seeing the finished product in our lives. I am thankful that God has a plan.  I am trying to be content with not knowing what that plan is at this time.  But, I've decided in the meantime, I'm going to start school! :)