Carried Along

I've often thought about 1 Corinthians 10:13, in which we're reminded that God will not tempt us beyond what we can bear. It's pretty encouraging, although I often don't feel as though I have MAJOR temptations to overcome-- though the little things like impatience and frustration are just as bad. This morning, as I was doing Bible study, I started thinking of this verse in a different (but I still think theologically grounded?) way. Just as God gives us the strength to stand up under temptation, he also allows us to stand firm in trials, giving us strength so that-- no matter how bad things get-- we won't crumble.

I've been particularly troubled by Mike's job as of late. Sales is stressful; that's just a fact. But when it seems like he has to keep bringing home news of more work troubles and stressors that aren't necessarily inherent in that line of work, I just don't know what to do. ADT is a great company-- don't get me wrong-- but with some of the changes they're trying to implement and the unethical behavior of other sales reps, it doesn't do much for my man's confidence. Honestly, the worst part about the job is that I want Michael to do something that he just LOVES-- that he feels called to. I want him to feel the same way about his work that I did about teaching and now mothering-- that no matter how crappy and stressful it is, there is what God has created me for. I don't know if Mike has found that yet. In fact, it really seems like he hasn't. Not that God hasn't called him to this job for a time, but it seems to me that it's just for a time-- no more. It's a hard thing NOT to be able to provide joy for one you love. I want to know the exact job that Mike should be in-- the one that perfectly fits his gifts and that God has been creating for him. But I have to wait for that.

I guess the long and the short of it is this: there has been mucho frustration around the Green household.

But.

Yesterday I was reminded that God doesn't give us more than we can bear. Even as Mike was struggling with some of the difficulties of work, God brought an unexpected and wonderful encounter. Mike's boss, seemingly out of the blue, approached Mike and asked if he would ever be interested in management. Caught off-guard, Mike replied that, yeah, he thinks he could see himself in that kind of position. Apparently, his boss has a review with his boss today, and he said he would make sure to mention Mike. Now, what that means isn't entirely clear to us, but here's what it means to me: Michael, as I fully know, is an amazing bright, hard-working, trustworthy man. What I didn't know was if his coworkers and employers saw that. But even as Mike sometimes feels downtrodden by some of the happenings around him, things are being noticed.

God brings us the boosts we need, when we need them. Plus, he doesn't let it go unnoticed when we allow him to work through us. I am so grateful for the hope we are able to find in him, that he will never fail to carry us through.