If you ask me how to describe 2020, I would say "opportunity."
In tragedy and conflict always lies the opportunity for personal growth, the opportunity to connect, and the opportunity to show kindness, mercy, and love.
Think differently.
Our mind is our most powerful organ, and how we think determines our well-being. Unfortunately, for many of us, our brain is on autopilot. We seldom try to condition it the best way to view the world; instead, we often react in ways we regret later.
What shall we do? Let me share a quote from the book of Jeremiah 17:7-8.
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
These ancient writings tell us the best way is to trust God. Let me tell a story of how trusting God has blessed my life.
Two years ago, I had a well-paying job. Another company bought the company I worked for, and I decided to leave for a start-up that was owned by a friend. He had pursued me to join him for over a year and promised me the job security for at the least one year. Unfortunately, he laid me off only two months after I started. I was hurt deeply. Instead of feeling bitter about a friend's betrayal and losing half of our household income, my wife and I decided to forgive and thank God for the experience and for the adventure ahead of us because we believe God has better things stored for us. We did not cut back on our charitable giving but made changes in our lifestyle so that our cash flow stayed positive. I tried consulting, actively looked for jobs, and went to career workshops. But all doors to my job search were shut. Six months went by, and nothing appeared to work. The pandemic made job hunting more difficult. I felt like in a desert, wondering why nobody wanted to hire me.
Proverbs 19:21 says Many plans are in a man's heart, but the purpose of the Lord will prevail.
I have worked hard and earned my living throughout my life, and I was proud of my accomplishment. Losing my job made me see having control of my life is an illusion. I was always at the mercy of God. Despite the job situation appeared desperate, I decided to trust God and wait for Him.
Though I knew that my wife's salary was sufficient to support our family, I often wrestled with various thoughts tempting me to change my mind. What if she loses her job? How would my colleagues and friends think of me? You are a failure, and nobody cares! How can you trust a God you cannot see!
With the prayers and support of my wife, I kept trusting. I let go of my pride and chose to be a happy staying home husband, doing household chores with a cheerful attitude. My job was and still is to love my wife and do my best to help her succeed. Staying at home also gave me time to serve people in our community, the very thing I was eager to do. With my wife as my sponsor and cheerleader, we worked together as a team, sharing God's love in an uncharted realm for us. We did not know what the outcome would be. We decided to cherish the experience and were excited about what God would do in our lives.
Looking back, I see the evidence of God in my life. Although I have not found the perfect job yet, 2020 turned out to be my best year ever. I have enjoyed the process of doing things, big or small, without being overly concerned about the outcome. I have learned that it is indeed more of a blessing to give than receive. In our journey, God blessed us with many new friends from all over the world despite the pandemic. Best of all, our marriage is healthy and still getting better. Every day we live in the moment, enjoying the favor of God and sharing His love with everyone.
Trusting God allowed me to see hope and remain optimistic when losing my job. Instead of falling into a downward spiral, I saw an opportunity to grow, love, and connect.
Think Differently