Promised Land.

"Enjoy your last day of freedom!!!"

"Well, vacation is almost over. Hope you made the best of it."

These are just a few of the messages I woke up to this morning as I did my usual wake-up phone check with one eye still closed. A normal person would probably look at the messages above and feel a dark cloud start forming over their head knowing they would once more be enslaved to the "daily grind" in a matter of 24 hours. But not me. No. After what I have experienced in the past year, I am more ready than ever to begin my days at 6am again.

Have you ever experienced something that made your stomach tie in knots...make you feel so anxious that your skin turned hot and you felt like you couldn't breathe? I have. In fact, I became used to that feeling, because that's how I would feel every day I went to work. Driving to work I would listen to "Our God is Greater" by Chris Tomlin, and "Forever Reign" by Hillsong to prepare myself for the environment I was about to put myself into. Although it was a trialing time for me, I was learning how to trust in the Lord in the midst of a storm. I will never forget how the Lord spoke to me though that time. The verses he gave me each morning were so encouraging it was as though they were written hundreds of years ago just for me to read them that day. He paralleled my trial to that of the slaves leaving Egypt to enter the Promised Land: "By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger, he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:27) He was my strength each moment, my courage to face my superiors, my faith to trust that I was making the right decision when I resigned.

Never did I think that my tenure at my first job would be so short. And never did I think I would resign without another job lined up. And never did I think that God would be the one telling me to resign from a job that I believe He led me to in the first place. But I was wrong. I resigned because God clearly told me to, and He wanted me to trust him to provide the next step. In his timing.

After battling my doubts that I made a terrible mistake by resigning and trusting that the Lord had me right where he wanted me, I began my journey. But it did not start with updating my resume and LinkedIn account, it started with me opening my Bible and my hands to receive guidance and to be refreshed and renewed. From day one of unemployment he continued to encourage me with verses of promises to be met: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Cor. 2:8)

It was a few months before Christmas when I was driving to my friend Rachael's place to look for jobs and heard an ad on the local Christian radio station for a sales associate position. I couldn't believe my ears! I had checked the radio station's website a month earlier and had not seen any postings. But after I looked online to see the qualifications - I knew it was perfect for me. It was a non-profit, ministry-based, sales support position. This had to be God's will for me. I knew that it wouldn't pay as well as my last job, but I could make sacrifices. And I knew that it would be a support position which wasn't ideal, but it was better than my last job. And I knew that it would be difficult to market for a radio station, but I was up for a challenge. After much prayer and prep I interviewed. It went great - and I was called back to come in for lunch so they could see how well I fit in the culture. Then Christmas came, and before I knew it 2 weeks had passed and still no call. I remember praying with my parents in my living room for this job (if it was God's will, of course) because it was so perfect and so close and so what I THOUGHT I wanted. But then I got the call...I wasn't picked for the position. I remember my confusion as I listened to the voice on the other end of the line, kindly letting me down, "Honestly, there was no negative feedback about you...we all really liked you. But the young woman we picked for the position was better suited for a permanent support role. We all agreed you would be a great fit for a sales role, but unfortunately we do not have any of those open right now. But believe me when we get an opening we will call you first."

"Excuse me, God!? You told me you promised me a job. This is a non-profit AND a ministry! How could this not be your will for me?! How can it get better than that?!" I asked the Lord for answers and it was continually the same....trust me:

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the work of your hands." (Psalm 138:8) 

"To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue." (Proverbs 16:1)
Life Application: "from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue" means that the final outcome of the plans we make is in God's hands. The results are up to Him. 

I don't think it has ever better harder to get out of bed the next morning. Feelings of doubt overcame me and I felt utterly defeated. But in the depths of my spirit, I knew I needed to bring it to God because I didn't have the strength to move forward on my own. After one of the LONGEST quiet times I've ever had (one of the perks of not having to go to work!) I found strength to keep looking and the faith that He must have something better for me out there. A few days went by and I got an email from my brother with a list of jobs he found that he thought I might be interested in. I gave him a call and it was really encouraging to hear his voice on the other end spurring me on and telling me some tips of how to look for jobs through LinkedIn. I applied to most of the jobs he sent on his email...but paid special attention to one that really interested me for a position of a sales specialist. It was for a company that was rated number one best place to work in Ohio...I applied and prayed.

The next day I decided to look at that company again. It seemed too good to be true. Their number one value was to have a passion for helping people...exactly what I was looking for in my next job - to be doing good to people. I found another posting for a business development associate, a position that seemed much more interesting and the qualifications were exactly what I had. I applied with hope that if it was God's will he would open the door. And around 2 hours later, that door swung open with an email from a hiring company asking for answers to some situational questions. I filled out the form with hope and asked the Lord to guide my answers. Low and behold, I got a call back about 2 days later to come in and interview with the company. I asked all my family and friends to pray and for the Lord to just help me be myself and relax....and let me tell you I have never felt more calm in an interview in my whole life. It almost weird how calm I was...I was so calm it was as if i was driving to go get ice cream. The interview (even though it was three hours) went unbelievably well. I knew it was the prayers and the Holy Spirit bringing me through on a cloud of calm. By the end my potential boss was all smiles and was exclaiming how they enjoyed talking to me that morning. I knew I had a good chance of getting the job, but I learned my lesson not to get my hopes up too high and trust that if I didn't get it there was something better.

I got a call about 2 days later from my potential (now) boss exclaiming he wanted me for the position. It was music to my ears! After hell on earth at my last job, to 5 months of unemployment, to being rejected for a job I thought was perfect...God was fulfilling His promise to me! And this job wasn't just any job. It is one that I am actually excited to do. God knew what I wanted in a job. He knew that I wouldn't have been happy at the Christian radio station doing what I was doing at my previous job. He had something better (and not to mention, paid better!) than my last job or the job at the radio station. He was not going to make me "settle" for something, but he delighted in giving me just want I desired...and so much more. Literally, my boss kept calling me with more and more good news about the job. Everyday I couldn't stop praising God for being faithful. Why did I doubt Him? He is always faithful to fulfill His promises to us...but it is never in our timing. It may feel like he forgot about you, but I am here to tell you that He didn't - he is working in ways you can't see, and he has you there for a reason. Our job is to trust, take steps of faith, and wait for the Lord.


"I will wait for you, O Lord; you will answer O Lord my God." (Ps. 38:15)

My mother sent me a card while I was in my timing of waiting that  I want to share with you. I hope that it encourages you where you are:

"Honey, just a reminder that all the details of your life were planned before you were born (Ps. 19:16). His Word reminds us: "I know, O Lord, that man's life is not is own; it is not for man to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23) and, that He has "plans to give you hope and a future." (Jer. 29:11)We know "the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His earns are attentive to their cry." (Ps. 34:15) So , we are told to "Be strong and take heart all who hope in the Lord." (Ps. 31:24) and to, "Devote ourselves to prayers, being watchful and thankful." (Col. 4) The Lord loves you Case, and the rock will roll into place at the perfect time for your next step! We love you so much and are praying for you. Mom & Dad (PS - I have the best parents in the world.)