“He is faithful that promised…”
In early January while working as a fulltime geological engineer, I was unexpectedly made redundant. This came as a huge shock as I had only just joined the company. I attended many interviews for other jobs in London but did not get any offers. For a period of four months I was without paid employment.
God promised from day one, that He would provide for our needs as a family until the end of May 2018 and I was to trust Him during this period. His provision included payments for our mortgage and the other utility bills. I was confident because Psalm 121v3 says, “He will not let your foot slip. He who watches over you will not slumber.” Sometimes it seemed foolishness, especially when people asked us about how we were managing, but trusting God means being confident about what we hope for, even when we don’t yet see it. By the end of this period as a family we were tired and frustrated but we kept Hebrews 12v7 close to our hearts: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?” God’s love was a reassuring, ongoing presence that He was for us and not against us.
Suddenly in early May, I received an email from a company in Manchester who required my specific skill set, and after a telephone interview with one of the company directors, I was offered employment. I initially rejected it because of the location, despite it being the company I had always wanted to work for since graduation in 1995. Then the company came back with an offer of a face-to-face interview and a six-week temporary contract that would enable us to get back on track financially. Meanwhile another company asked me to join their team in London. They were prepared to wait the six weeks until I had finished in Manchester.
I am now working for the London company, working on an exciting infrastructure project within a growing team.
As for the future, I am uncertain what it will bring, but of one thing I am certain: God is with us and He is faithful to His promises. Joel 2v25 states, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten”. Also, Hebrews 13v5-6: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So, we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Gateway Church Ashford, is a church in Ashford, Kent, and is part of the New Frontiers movement and within the Catalyst Network sphere.