I don’t know what’s next.
At the beginning of 2023, we starting calling this our year of Jubilee. I turned forty this year, we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary and we began the process of a major addition to our home. While we definitely faced some challenge and difficulty the whole year has felt like things were coming to fruition.
Then two months ago my husband lost his job. Almost four weeks ago he verbally accepted a new position and we breathed a grateful sigh of relief. But we’ve been waiting on a start date and it hasn’t come. Unemployment payments are backlogged and we may some sizeable bills to pay coming up soon.
We are waiting again to see what God will do.
When I order something online, I will often look to see if the item is available “in store” for local pick up. It’s incredibly frustrating to go to pick up an item I ordered only to find that the inventory was wrong and the item is not actually available.
We feel a bit like that right now. Except that God is not a vending machine and my prayers aren’t orders that have a guaranteed pick up time and place. But you know what I can count on? His presence, goodness and peace.
The great political deliverer did not arrive in Jerusalem wielding a sword. The king of heaven himself was born in the town of Bethlehem among unknown people amidst anonymous animals. The names of those who witnessed his birth are not recorded and even the shepherds are only identified by their occupation.
The Prince of Peace didn’t drive out the Romans or unite the factions, but he put himself into the middle of everything. He was present and he lived among the most common of people.
This Christmas won’t look like I was expecting. I feel like I’ve said that for so many years that I really should stop anticipating how Christmas will be. But I can be expectant that Immanuel is still as much with us today as he was over 2000 years ago. His presence, his goodness and his love, those I can lean on. He is still God with us, no matter what the future holds.
“A longing heart
A world on fire
We want to see your face again
No man can know
The day, the hour
The many miles from Bethlehem
But every knee will bow and bend
And every tongue confess again
Emmanuel
We breathe your name
We watch, we wait”
-Nicole Nordeman, We Watch, We Wait
Praying for y’all!
God is no vending machine,
nor Vegas one-armed bandit.
He really does not dig the scene
that when prayed to, He must hand it
right straight over, what you want,
nor match three spinning fruits.
These are not Him, they’re just a taunt
from the devil who is in cahoots
with all our base and dark desires,
the ones that put us in control,
or cast Love to the smoky fires
in fear that it cannot be whole
when it’s so very hard to trust
that God will do what’s best for us.
I’m sorry about the job woes and all the uncertainties that go along with it. 2022 was that kind of year for me and my husband – we got the rug pulled out from under us twice that year with job losses and huge unanticipated changes. I’ve reminded myself many times that God is never caught off guard just because we are, and that he has a plan – just as you said. Praying that the great things he has in store for you are coming soon and that you’ll be abundantly blessed this holiday season! Visiting from FMF
I’m sorry to hear about the kind of year you are having, but you are absolutely right, God is never surprised. My pastor used to say that we can’t live our lives as though God is in heaven wringing his hands at the events of earth. He is Lord of all! Praying for restoration and peace for you and your family this advent and Christmas season.
I pray a peaceful and joy-filled Christmas for you, your husband and family. The Lord will carry you through if you trust and wait (two of the hardest things for us to do, yes?). What a wonderful thing to call your year a year of Jubilee! Here’s a thought to remember—when Jesus called Peter out of the boat to walk over to Him on the water, Peter did, until he took his eyes of Jesus. With your eyes on Jesus He will carry you through. Merry Christmas.
Sorry you are having a tough time. Waiting is a difficult spiritual discipline. Sometimes we see the reason for the wait, sometimes we don’t, but God has the best plan, whether we see all the details or not.
I hope your fellow gets to start his job soon (or finds another in lieu) and yes, our Christmas’s don’t always look the same do they? But still, the magic always show up. 🙂 FMF12
but in retrospect,, with the insight of hindsight, aren’t you glad he doesn’t do things your way? Blessings for a new year full of divinely ordained surprises.