I do not work in a church.  I am involved in ministry full-time, but I also work a secular job to provide for my family.  I don’t care where you work, whether it be in a church or out; if you work with people, it can be difficult.  

Feeling called to ministry, I have asked God to deliver me from my secular jobs many times in the past.  I’m sure many of you can relate.

For a little history, in my adult life, I have worked in retail, child care, job-site safety, management, custodial services, hospitality, social work, and education.  I have had careers, and I have had times when I had several part-time jobs to make ends meet.

I say all of this to emphasize that no matter what the working situation I feel for you, except for food service.  I’ve never done that, but you guys are my heroes.  I never had the courage it takes to wait tables.

If you absolutely love your job and never experience conflict or difficulty there, that is amazing, and I am so happy for you, but this particular blog may not resonate with you.

I want to address those who have known long nights crying out to God to deliver you from a situation that, though it meets a need, is a source of stress and distress in your life. 

As my heart has struggled lately with a similar unrest, God brought me to the book of Job.  HAHA  I do not compare my job situation with the sufferings of Job, by the way.  This is just where God led me for some clarity.  I have struggled with the book of Job through the years.  Sometimes, when I read parts of the Bible, I find myself going to the Lord and asking Him to help me understand why He responded in certain ways and did things the way He did.  I read the Bible from the human perspective of “what if that were me.”  How would I want God to show up if I were walking through a wilderness, running for my life, or grieving the loss of all that I held dear while my health painfully faded away?  I sometimes find myself struggling with what feels like harshness in God’s replies.  I hope that does not reveal me to be a bad Christian, but I want to be honest about how I’ve struggled in case someone else is in the same place.

God’s reply to Job lasts for almost 4 chapters at the end of the book of Job.  For a little summary, Job starts the book as a rich and powerful man with friends, family, and all the comforts of an affluent life, and within the first two chapters, he loses it ALL.  His riches are stolen, his children killed, his property destroyed, and his health painfully failing.  He tries to maintain his belief in God’s goodness through it all, even with his friends and even his wife telling Him to accept that God has abandoned him.  In all of this, he understandably begins to question God.  

God’s reply at the end of the book is four chapters in which He reminds Job that He sees and understands things Job cannot and that His wisdom is perfect, even in Job’s situation.  I do not know about you, but if I were Job, I might have spent a minute or two feeling like that was not really an answer to why this had to happen, but Job, being a much more mature Christian than I am sometimes, replied with repentance.

Here is what God showed me in those chapters that I had never understood before:

1. His wisdom is perfect.  When I am in the midst of my own turmoil, it is easy for me to want God’s immediate and undivided attention to my discomfort.  It can be tempting and easy to forget that the situation is not all about me.  It is never God’s will for us to suffer, but suffering is a reality in this sinful world, and if we will allow Him, God will turn our situation for our good and His glory.  In some of the worst times of my life, God was guiding me closer to Him, and when I looked back years later, I saw that others were following me to Christ as I ran to Him.
2. You are not alone.  God has not opened a door for your provision and then pushed you through it with a “good luck” before He walks away.  If He called you to that workplace, He has come there with you.  Acknowledge Him.  Invite Him into your day.  The conflicts you are experiencing may not immediately cease, but He can bring a calm in the middle of it, even if it’s only for you.  Remember that it takes conflict for things that need to change, to change.  If there are unhealthy or unproductive dynamics at work in your workplace, this conflict may be God’s vehicle for those environments that are unhealthy for you to be healed.  
3. God is good.  Though the words of God’s replies in scripture sometimes sound harsh to me, I cannot deny the love and care in His actions.  When I am tempted to question God’s goodness, it is not out of line for God to remind me of His wisdom and love, even if I feel like the reminder is harsh.  Sometimes my heart needs correction, and I am so glad that God is not afraid to do that.  He is good.  He does restore.  He does provide.  He does offer us maturity and perspective.  He is a good God.

In the midst of your turmoil today, God wants to whisper peace.  This is not the kind of peace that comes with knowing your two-week notice has been delivered, and you are just riding out the remainder of your time.  This is not the peace of finality and release, but one of knowing that you do not walk into that place alone.  You never have and you never will.

For some, God will provide something different, maybe even something better, but for some, He will place His hand on our shoulders and say, “Peace, my daughter.  I have called you to this place.”  To those, He will cause peace to reign in the midst of the conflict.  He will calm His child while the storm rages if we allow ourselves to surrender to His calm.

Lord, I give you this day.  I ask that you help me to do whatever I lay my hand to for your glory and to the best of my ability with a joyful heart.  I thank you for the financial stability you have provided for my family through this work.  I thank you for the opportunity to use the strength and talents you have given me to provide a useful service to others.  I thank you today for the privilege of every new relationship, professional or personal, that has come from this work opportunity, and I ask that you would help me to honor You in all the ways I interact with those I work with.  For the times I have been tempted to despair or doubt Your goodness, I ask for Your forgiveness.  For those relationships I have jeopardized with harsh words or poor attitudes, I humbly ask for your grace and mercy.  I know that even as a seasoned believer, I still need a Savior.  I bring all of this to your feet, Lord, and I ask that you help me to go forward walking closer with you than I did yesterday.

Amen.

by Stephanie S.

When I think about the phrase “peace in the wild,” I picture a leopardess in the middle of a jungle. I imagine the sound of monkeys hooting in the background while she cleans her paws. She’s laying down, feeling peaceful, she’s not worried about where her next meal will come from. She’s not anxious about her cubs; they’re healthy and happy. She lays her head down, closes her eyes, and rests. Ah, this is what I wish I could achieve in life.

As a kid, I was always drawn to leopards at the zoo. I remember my parents had a polaroid of me standing next to one on a family vacation. We were told not to touch the animals, so I made sure to give it plenty of room while posing. As a young adult, I had the pleasure of going to Africa and being on a safari where I experienced seeing one in the wild. It was creeping through the brush, not wanting to be seen; I snapped a quick picture. Unfortunately, you can’t tell what it is, but I know what I saw. Leopards are strong, stealthy, and, not to mention, gorgeous.

As a mom, life can get hectic, especially around the holidays. You need to wrap the gifts, make the treats, plan the family outings, squeeze in all the cinematic classics, and still find ways to create magical moments along the way. Also, who knows what day it is anymore? After Christmas and the sugar rush, the calendar seems obsolete. Holidays are wild. Schedules are wild. Life is wild. But scripture reminds us:

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Growing up, I had a bad habit of biting my fingernails to the point where they would not grow anymore. This became a nervous habit that I unfortunately carried into adulthood. Anytime I feel anxious or overwhelmed, I start to chew my nail polish. When did this wild act become my go to for peace and comfort?

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Peace in God is a calm spiritual state defined by trust in God’s presence and control, providing joy, rest, and protection, even during difficulties.

Several years ago, my family and I went through a very stressful season. It was filled with many uncertainties and a lot of heartbreak. However, despite all the cards stacked against us, we believed that God was going to come through. After being told in February that I wasn’t pregnant, my hope level sank, but that didn’t stop me. After 5 months of rest, prayer, and regrouping, I was ready to try again. That was when we heard the most beautiful words, “Congratulations, you’re pregnant!” These were the words we had longed to hear. Our dream was coming true, and we knew it was God. In that moment, all my husband and I could do was look at each other and smile. There was so much peace that filled our home that day. Seven years later, we have a creative, imaginative, and thriving little girl who enjoys life.

Here’s what she tells me when she can see that Mommy is feeling overwhelmed:

1)  Take a deep breath

2)  Count to 5

3)  Pray

It’s amazing how innocent our babies can be. It breaks my heart anytime I see her disappointed or sad. I wish I could make everything better, but more times than not, I’m not in control of the situation and neither is she. Nevertheless, I’m grateful that she hasn’t experienced any hardships. And hardships will come. Life is full of them. But no matter how she’s feeling or what situation she’s dealing with, she knows she can call on the name of Jesus. He is our Prince of Peace.

We live on an acre of land in the middle of nowhere. The only sounds we hear are the mooing of cows and the train nearby. At night, we hear the gentle sounds of owls hooting and crickets chirping. We love to look up at the big black sky and count the stars. Just the other night, I witnessed the moon all big and bright. It looked like a flashlight shining down on me. When I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I like to walk outside and take in the scenery. I enjoy watching the cows graze along the fence while their calves follow behind. The smell I don’t care for, but the fact that I get to see this breathtaking view every day brings me peace. 

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

As I reflect on peaceful moments in my life, I’m reminded again of the leopardess moving gracefully through the wild. She is surrounded by unpredictable terrain and potential threats, yet she remains focused and poised—never letting the chaos around her disrupt her composure. In much the same way, we are called to hold onto peaceful thoughts, even when the world feels untamed and uncertain. Like the leopardess, let’s choose to trust, breathe deeply, and seek the peace that comes from knowing who walks beside us. No matter how wild life gets, we can find moments of stillness and grace by keeping our minds fixed on Him.