Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
Colorado Springs.
September 21, 2013 saw us arrive in town full of confidence that we knew what we were doing. We were going to be here for a year, we were going to fix the broken stores, we were going to get ready for my promotion, and we were going to get out of here.
We knew this would be a challenge, but we were confident that God was moving us here for a reason. We had no idea how challenging the year would be though - probably a good thing since I don't know if we would have come had we known what was in store:
- #1 Retail crime market in the United States
- #1 Theft store in the #1 retail crime market in the United States
- 3 dead cars
- 1 set of Frozen Pipes
- 1 Passive Aggressive HOA
- Transferred from the #1 theft store to the NEW #1 theft store
- 3 oral surgeries
- 2 big cat sicknesses
These things were not part of the plan. We were looking to go to Seattle, and the door opened here. Our home sold in 4 hours. We found a place to live in 6 hours. Every crisis we encountered, every fleece we laid, was answered perfectly. This was supposed to be easy because we were walking in faith.
I guess God didn't get the memo that it was supposed to be easy.
This year has been a lesson in faith, and reliance on His provision. We have faced crisis after crisis where the solution came only from admitting that we had no answer. We have struggled through doubt, frustration, anger, depression with wave after wave of issues. Each time we begin to place a little bit of faith in our own strength we are humbled. And through this frustration God has brought us into His peace.
"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 3:13-14
With all of the difficulties we've faced, I have no doubt that this is where God wants us to be for this season. Had we been anywhere else; we would need to live as a two income family, and this year has been a blessing for Kate and the kids. The external theft experience I am getting here is second to none (way to go Colorado Springs - You are #1!!). I am in the number one customer / thief traffic store in Colorado, and am diving into mentoring and coaching while facing a huge pile of obstacles. I was put into a store that was completely broken, and God was able to use my strengths to help heal and build a sustaining culture that will see that team succeed at some point in time. None of these blessings would have happened anywhere else.
Last week I was at a low regarding work: the thieves are winning, my numbers are horrible, inventory is coming and it will not be pretty. I began to worry that I committed career suicide by coming here. My goal was to get some experience, fix some stores, and get promoted - but now the concern is this market will bury me and in so doing; strand us here. Then I prayed.
I felt a peace and whisper come over me saying; "Child, I brought you here. I opened this window, and I have you. My purpose may not be yours, but I will not abandon you." And that was it. Peace.
I don't know if we will get the promotion. I don't know if the theft of Colorado Springs will stop my career aspirations in their tracks. I don't know what will happen tomorrow. But I do know that God made the way, He has us, He has us. We are here for His purpose, and it may have nothing to do with our goals, but it is for our good.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. - Romans 15:13
No comments:
Post a Comment