Disappointment
Have you ever applied for a job, got the interview, did exceptionally well in it, then was told you did not get the job?
How many times was this my plight in my short life, and a few times I even shed tears as I had already imagined myself in those positions. In one instance, I may even have known the person who filled the post and have even had to work with them. What a dilemma!
There were also those jobs I applied for which I never got a call back for and that too was tough.
In one instance, I applied for what would seem like a dream job, was well on my way having been told I got the job, only to realise it was just a grand scam. That one hurt deeply. I took quite a while to get over the loss.
Don’t get me wrong, God has been gracious to me where jobs are concerned. Even though I always had a job, and in the career I wanted, movements were always slow and tough.
Despite how I felt, I stayed encouraged because I knew ‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ (Isaiah chapter 55 verses 8 – 9).
And with this, I just accepted that things should get better, but I didn’t always believe that.
But it wasn’t always easy.
Change your perspective
In my last job, pretty much my dream job, things did not necessarily pan out as I had expected. I stayed at the same level for my duration there, even though I worked hard and did a good job. I watched quite a few others progress beyond me and that was disheartening. It wasn’t always easy. I wondered many times why God wouldn’t just let me move on.
Imagine being in your dream job and realising the dream is not what it was all made up to be. This truly tested my faith. As mentioned before, I applied for many jobs and even got some of the interviews, and not getting those jobs made me question my abilities because I was qualified and even did good interviews.
It was close to the end of leaving my supposed dream job that I had started to slow down and truly place it completely in God’s hands. Instead of trying to force the next move to happen, I realised I just had to trust God’s timing.
‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.’ (Philippians chapter 4 verse 6).
God’s timing
Eventually, I saw the ad for my present job and was so jaded that I decided I would not apply. The truth was I had applied for two jobs there already and was not even considered; thus I was not too confident to try again. It took two friends who pushed my hand; one by sending me the ad and suggesting I would be good for the post, and another advising me to apply.
I took the opportunity and applied, and this was evidently the move God had wanted me to take because things progressed nicely, and I finally came to understand that this was where he wanted me.
The opportunities I received in this job made up for the years I had waited in others…it simply was a move of God’s timing. Awards, promotions, exposure, and trainings I was denied were a natural part of my new experience and it all happened in far less time than before.
What I had also come to understand on good authority was that very job I cried over was not the best fit for me or place to work. The job I was overlooked for back in the day at the very place I was now, I was supervising that very position.
When I think of the goodness of God and how he ordered our steps, he, being outside of time, is truly already aware of why he wanted me to be in certain places. At the time, of course I wanted to believe the best that God had for me, but I will be honest – it was hard.
On days like these I keep thanking him that I never ended up in any of those other jobs because they were just not suited for me. I see now why I had to manoeuvre the trenches and turns of the valley until it was my time to stand on the mountain top.
‘And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.’ (Romans chapter 8 verse 28).
I emphasise how important it is to stay the course, trust God and let him fight your battles. Yes, it does not feel great when these disappointments happen, but he is faithful to your cause and has the most amazing plan for you. Focus on him.
Let me conclude with one of my favourite Bible verses. My life has already been testament to this fact, and I know many others have that experience too.
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ (Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11).
I dear emphasize how important it is to stay the course, trust God and let him fight your battles. Yes, it does not feel great when these disappointments happen, but he is faithful to your cause and has the most amazing plan for you. Focus on him.
Let me conclude with one of my favourite Bible verses. My life has already been testament to this fact, and I know many others have that experience too. “For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11).