Brave with Hope: Melanie's Story, Day 5 of Unemployment

I sat with my friend, Melanie, as tears brimmed. Sunday’s service had just ended, and her first week of unemployment was about to begin.

Messages of being brave have been everywhere for her, but Melanie is a single mom with no job, no current options, and one month away from not being able to pay rent. Being laid-off was not on her radar. Anywhere.

What in the world. 

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We’ve been talking about this word BRAVE and the idea that God has a very specific purpose for the place He has you right now.

This is really super great in theory. But how (how?!) do you look out at the future, how do you hold bravely onto hope in the middle of hard and messy real life?

So, I asked.

I asked Melanie how she’s doing. And this is what came out:

Single parent and unemployed, not a place I thought I’d be in.

It finally sunk in on Sunday when you saw me. I don’t like to cry in public but there I was, holding myself back from outright sobbing as hard as I could.  

This week I filed for unemployment and assistance programs.  I did a little purging; turned off cable and the home phone line, boxed up all my work equipment which is now in the hands of FedEx.

The last time I was unemployed it was by choice, back in the 90’s.  I had two children and my husband, and I decided I would stay home to take care of them.  I didn’t “work” again until 7 years later, after my third child had been born, the very year I became a single parent.  I’ve been with the same company for twelve years.  I worked my way up from entry level to management. It was a secure job, steady paychecks and paid vacation. 

The problem, though, was what I was placing my security in – a job instead of God.

Am I worried? Yeah, I am human after all. There’s been fear, insecurity and defeatist self-talk.

With all the stress and anxiety leading up to this, I thought I’d be depressed.  I thought I’d want to lie in bed all day or just binge on NetFlix and have a really BIG pity party.

But I’m not.

To be perfectly honest with you, I actually feel hopeful. I feel LIGHT, like a burden has been lifted. I’ve heard message after message about waiting on the Lord, and God has been telling me to trust Him. I know God is working in all of this. 

I spoke to a friend from work just yesterday and she said “You sound so happy, you’re laughing again, you sound like Mellie again” (Mellie is what everyone at work called me).  I know I have the support of all my friends, my family and my church family too.  The number of people who have reached out and told me they are praying is astounding.  

Mostly, I guess I have a sense of peace.  I know that regardless of what happens God has known the plan all along and it will be really GOOD.  I am reading my Bible more, I’m journaling (something I’ve never done), and praying a lot. 

I’m not asking God for a job, I’m asking Him to help me keep an open mind to whatever He’s going to bring my way. 

I don’t really know what’s coming, but I’m looking forward to it!  Doesn’t mean I won’t still feel stress on occasion, especially if I don’t have a job come the end of this month because that means I could lose my apartment. But I’ll just need to remind myself every day that there IS a plan.  

Melanie is believing that God has a purpose for her place.

Even though absolutely nothing makes sense, and it’s not at all where she wanted or asked to be.

Yet somehow on the inside, she is quietly trusting that God is at work. That He is for her. And there is a plan.

Maybe you’re there. Maybe your life doesn’t make one drop of sense. 

Where’s your heart today?

I want you to know that you’re in such good company. Not a single one of us can put this whole thing together. Life is crazy. So many times I find myself saying “I don’t understand that”. 

I don’t even begin to understand God, or why Mel is unemployed, or why God allows suffering. It doesn’t make any sense to me.

But if I’m honest, even though I so want it to make sense, and at times I just ache because I want to be able to wrap my brain around it all, at the end of the day, I know this to be true:

I want a God bigger than what I can understand.

I want a God that’s big. One who sees beyond what my eyes can see. I want a God who says things like I love you. I am for you, and I have a plan. 

I’m (slowly) learning/trying to replace my initial questions of “God why?” with, “God what are you wanting to speak to my heart in the middle of all of this?”. 

Maybe today, take a moment. Soak in these verses filled with hope…promises for your heart…

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the LordBe strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Romans 8:31-32

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3

Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Be BRAVE, sweet one, you are stronger than you think. God is with you, and He sees beyond the right now. Be strong and courageous.

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8 Comments

  1. Miki Lynes on June 5, 2015 at 10:14 am

    Wow!!
    God knew I needed to hear this today and it is perfect timing. We are losing our housing and having a difficult time finding a place that will rent to us. We underwent a bankruptcy and lost our home earlier this year. We originally had the security of staying in staff housing on my work property for 2 years. We have learned we have to move out by August 12 this year. This came as a huge shock to us. We have been searching the internet and have been scammed twice on Craigslist. I want to give up and crawl in bed just like Melanie but God wont let me. He brings things like this to me all the time to remind me he is here and he knows where we will be living come Aug 12. He has blessed our family so much and we are eternally grateful.
    Thank you for sharing your story Melanie it is both brave and an inspiration to me.
    Blessings to all,
    Miki

    • Julie Thomas on June 5, 2015 at 10:17 am

      Miki, you are brave. I’m sitting here with tears praying with you, believing with you, and hopeful for all that God will do, in only His way.

  2. Miki Lynes on June 5, 2015 at 10:22 am

    Julie,
    Thank you so much! I miss you all very much Rodney and I will have to come visit real soon. Foothills will always be our home no matter how far away we move. I remember walking in those doors over 20 years ago at Moore Middle School and feeling the love and compassion. Your family has touched all of our lives in many different ways and we are blessed.
    Thank you!!

  3. Melanie on June 5, 2015 at 11:17 am

    I’m praying for you too, Miki, and I miss seeing you! God has a PLAN! 🙂

  4. Miki Lynes on June 5, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    Thank you Love you girl!!! He does have a plan and I know he does….. wish he would share sometimes. 🙂

  5. Connie on June 5, 2015 at 7:19 pm

    Honest and encouraging! Thank you

  6. Mary Lawson on June 5, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    Each time I read one of your teachings, I am amazed at how you can bring the lesson to those of us who are older as well as the ones who are young. I think all of us are wanting to trust the Lord more in our lives and that’s what your lessons are teaching me. I have sent one of your Brave sessions to my cousin who has just lost her husband rather suddenly and it has ministered to her also.

    A broad spectrum of women can learn and be encouraged by these lessons and for that I am thankful and excited also. It means a lot to have this kind of encouragement.

    Thank you so much.

    • Julie Thomas on June 5, 2015 at 10:39 pm

      Mary, Praying with you for your cousin, for strength through incredible grief. So grateful that you are here.

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