I can see clearly now. . . (the rain is gone!)

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God!" Psalms 31:14

Awhile back, less than 2 months ago, I started a new job. And I hated it. That's right, I hated it. I know that's a fairly strong word, and if Caleb were to say he hated something I'd probably have some stern words for him. In fact, one day I sent DSH (Dear Sweet Husband) a brief email message that said, "Loathe! 'Nuff said!" That's how I felt about my new job.

My heart was set on teaching, and while I knew that I lacked any significant classroom experience I needed to do something besides sit at home waiting on the phone to ring for the occasional substitute teaching job. So I took a job. And I learned a LOT, but I wasn't very happy. I had applied for a teaching position, and was hopeful! VERY hopeful! And I prayed since January, "God if you want me to teach, please make my lack of actual classroom experience irrelevant. Just put me where you want me, God!"

Several weeks passed, and one day my phone rang. Believe it or not, I got an interview for the teaching position. I went for the interview, and felt really good about how it all went. I was absolutely certain that God was working everything out for me. In the meantime, a friend recommended me to a recruiter for a HR position. The recruiter called me, I went for an interview, and I received a job offer. Still certain that God was taking care of that teaching position for me, I took the HR job knowing that it would get me out of what I considered a bad situation, and also knowing that I loved HR for several years and could see myself working HR again!

One day my phone rang. And when I answered, I was notified that the teaching position that I wanted with my entire being was offered to someone else. And they told me that while I had nterviewed well and my references spoke well of me, it boiled down to. . .

Wait. . .

Wait for it. . .

Classroom experience!!!

WOW! Did I hear that right? Well, I could certainly apply for another open position because after all God surely hadn't gotten that right, had He? And so for just a few days, I struggled with the rejection and the death of a dream!! (Yes, I'm getting a little dramatic here!) But then, I began to pray again - thinking of that scripture that suggests we praise God in ALL things. And I praised God for taking care of me. I thanked Him, but I was honest and told Him that I was a little sad at how it had all turned out - forgetting that I was about to start a great job in a field that I love. (Honestly??? I cried! But I think/hope God was OK with that!!)

And then I began to think about what I had prayed for several weeks - If you want me to teach, I know that you'll make the lack of actual classroom experience irrelevant. I TRUSTED God to do what He knows best - to put me where He wanted me.

Could it be that the lack of substitute teaching jobs was God's way of pushing me back into the work force?

Could it be that the reason I was so unhappy in the first position was that God was nudging me towards, and preparing me for the position that He'd had in mind for me all along?

Could it be that God really DOES know what He's doing? Hmmmmmm. . . There's a thought!

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to Him in song. Psalms 28:7

I may not actually give thanks to Him in song, because even though I really like to sing and I sing really loud when I'm in my car (alone), I'm fairly certain that DSH and Caleb probably get tired of hearing me sing! But my heart truly does leap for joy, and I will praise Him for answered prayers and for allowing me to see it so clearly!