Be still...

"Be still and know that I am God..." ~Psalm 46:10

Lord, in all the times of uncertainty or when I simply want to control everything around me, I hear your voice within me say, "Be still". Perhaps, that has been your message for me as I pray for my husband to be blessed. "Be still and know that I am God". You are in control. You are faithful. You have a plan for him and a plan for us. I know these things in my heart, but sometimes, my head overrules my heart and I lose sight of your grand design. You place us exactly where we are supposed to be at precisely the right time. As sure as you did when you brought us together nine years ago. Sure, each of us prayed that we would be blessed with a life partner, but with so many prayers and not a lot of answers, it seemed as though you could not hear us. And, then, one day, when I was ready and when he was ready, you brought us together. Maybe, just maybe, you do the same things with jobs and children and everything else in our lives. Not our timing, but yours.

God, help me to remember your grace, love and mercy. Help me to stay encouraged and continue encouraging my husband as he goes back into job search mode. Lord, I pray this will be the right time for him. He is strong. He is brilliant. He is ready.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Still praying, still hoping...

God, thank you for all the things you do for us. You are loving. You are faithful. Even when my eyes cannot see your plan or understand why things happen the way they do, I must trust that YOU are in control. Thank you for encouraging my heart and helping me to find hope in you.

Lord, help me to focus on you. Help me to continue encouraging my husband, even when I, myself, am uncertain. Give us strength to endure and courage to take leaps of faith when life presents a crossroads.

God, I pray for my husband. He is weeks away from completing his certification and I pray that he will be able to secure a job thereafter. The firm he spoke with a couple weeks ago seems like they are willing to work with him to find a good position. Lord, let this be the blessing we have been waiting and praying for.

Thank you for loving us. Continue to guide our paths. Keep us healthy and strong. Help us to grow closer to each other and closer to you... in times of good and bad...

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

A glimmer of hope...

Last week, my husband had an interview with an accounting firm in hopes that they might be able to place him in an entry-level position. After a virtual interview, the firm advised him to finish up his accounting certification and then reach out when he is closer to completion so they can start looking for potential positions for him. Halleluyah! A glimmer of hope - and it is right on time!

God, thank you for this small, but promising glimmer. I pray my husband can continue to focus on the finish line of his certification and gain confidence to go into a finance role with this firm. While it may be temp or temp-to-hire at first, it will be worth it to see my husband feeling productive and happy again with the direction of his life. I pray you would instill confidence in the firm and help them to see the massive potential my husband has to represent them well.

I am thankful for all the ways you bless us. Thank you Lord - for all you're doing and all you will do. We will continue to look to you for direction and guidance as we try to maneuver this crazy journey.

Thank you for your love. Thank you for my husband. Thank you for this inkling that a blessing is right around the corner for him.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

A new month has arrived...

God, thank you for bringing forth a new month and the promise of a better tomorrow. February has arrived and I am hopeful that something good is on the horizon. I have been submitting resumes locally and across a few other states - and my husband has been submitting as well. Something has to break. Something has to happen. We are scared of what lies ahead, but are trying to keep our faith in you and your plan for our lives.

Lord, I pray for my husband. I pray for his state of mind, which has improved in recent weeks, but has taken a beating over the last few years. Help him to see how awesome he is and how much he is capable of. Help him to remember that he was created in your image and that, you do not make mistakes. He is the man he is for a reason. While ignorant people may view certain things about him as shortcomings, they are certainly not. He can do so much and can achieve so much, if only someone will take a chance on him. Doesn't anyone want to take a newby under their wing, train/educate/mold them and help them achieve the seemingly unachievable?

God, help us to find direction. Help us to see the right path for us. Give us the skills, knowledge, tools and support we need to break down barriers and move forward with the next chapter of our life together. We love you and thank you for all that you are going to do.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Praying 34 is blessed...

Lord, thank you for blessing my husband with another year. He is healthy and fighting the good fight to stay positive, despite his job situation. I long to see him happy, fulfilled and satisfied, especially in this area of his life. After numerous phone interviews and a few face-to-face ones in between, we struggle to find a reason why he has not secured a job. He is brilliant and amazing in so many ways, but it seems as though other people, particularly potential employers, just don't take the time to see those things. 

We are pondering the idea of leaving home, finding a new place and starting over, in a sense. That would mean leaving his family and all of our friends, but it is the only way we can think of to give my husband a new barrel of opportunities. Where there are new opportunities, perhaps there is the right job for him. It's scary - particularly because, in order to do this, I must find an exceptional job who would potentially help to relocate us. There are so many things that would have to fall into place for this to happen, so I pray for discernment, wisdom and, in whatever path we are supposed to follow, that you move the mountains, God. We need your guidance and we need your strength to pull us through and figure out what to do next. 

Thank you for loving us. Thank you for working on our behalf, even when we don't see or recognize it. Thank you for your son, Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen.

On my knees in 2016...

While I think of and pray for my husband often, I have not devoted as much time praying here, in writing, so those prayers can be validated, shared and lifted up by others on his behalf. This is a new year and I am refocusing my energy on this venture. I will document prayers for my husband. I will reference scripture to reinforce those prayers. And, I will ask that each person who reads this blog send up a prayer on my husband's behalf. If the scripture of Psalm 107 is true, then God CAN and WILL change things if we ask in the name of Jesus.

Psalm 107:28-30 -- "Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven..."

God, please hear the cries of my heart. I intercede on behalf of my husband in hopes that you will bless him in a major way this year. His faith is shaken... well both of ours is shaken, if I am being honest. We have prayed for two very important things and neither of them has come to fruition. First, my poor husband has struggled to find work for three years now, and after repeated letdowns, it doesn't seem a job blessing is ever going to happen. God, you've been faithful to us in other ways... Why does this prayer go seemingly unanswered? Why has no door, window or glimmer of hope opened up for him? Second, we hoped to have a family by now. In June, we will be married for 4 years and, still, there are no children. My age continues to creep up and that obviously makes it harder and more high risk for pregnancy. Will I ever be able to give my husband children? It's been a dream of his for so long and I am not sure how I will cope with it if I am unable to make that dream a reality for him. Is that in the cards for us, God, or are we just praying for something that will never come?

I pray you will give us hope. Surround us with your love, courage and strength to endure whatever comes our way. Give us patience to wait on you and, in times of uncertainty, fear or discouragement, lift up our hearts and help us to focus on the blessings you have for us -- in your time.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Another "No"

God, this is frustrating. Beyond frustrating. Even a church has turned down my husband for work. A colleague of mine mentioned an opportunity at her mom's church and encouraged me to have my husband apply. So, I did... And he did... He went for an interview (if that's what you want to call it) and felt good about his chances. Even I felt that, if anyone was going to give my husband a chance, it should be a church. My colleague, with her "inside scoop", promoted my husband by telling me that he was the most qualified candidate out of the pool and it should go to him.

We waited. The pastor went on vacation so we tried to be patient waiting for a response. A week or so later, my colleague mentions that the pastor interviewed and liked her. Still, I felt hopeful, particularly when her mom said that girl should not be hired. Later that week, my husband received word that he was not chosen and they went with someone "more experienced". I immediately knew that the pastor chose the overqualified girl. Why? Why would they choose someone who will constantly be looking for the bigger/better deal over my husband who is so eager to work again? How could you let him go through another process and get his hopes up - only to have him let down once again?

I am tired. And even though I don't want my faith to be shaken, I have to admit it is. I am thankful for all of the other blessings in our life - our health, our finances, our marriage... But my husband finding a great job should not be this hard. We've prayed until we're blue in the face - and still nothing happens. Something needs to change... Someone needs to step up... If that happens to be this church after the overqualified girl leaves them high and dry, they can take their job and shove it. My husband deserves so much better than this... SO much better...

Where are you, God? Are you hearing our prayers??