By Cindy Brock, President - Affordable Words, Inc.
While I wouldn’t consider myself to be a religious person in the typical sense (because I don’t attend church on a regular basis) I do have a strong belief in God or a higher power.
I am also not one to push my beliefs on others…or at least I hope that I haven’t pushed them on others to this point. But something changed recently. It was a change I felt that absolutely needed to be shared.
I have a close friend named Rick. Rick and I met when my husband and I were looking to buy an RV. The minute I met Rick, I knew we would be great friends. That first day, we spent hours together – as if we had been friends for years. I knew Rick was a religious man because we briefly touched on how God worked in our lives – such as bringing us to together.
Over the next few years, there were many highs and lows in both our lives. At some of the lowest moments in my life, I knew that I could lean on Rick for strength. I knew that I could tell him my troubles, and he would use his connection with God to give me the strength to go on.
Just recently Rick called me in total distress – a rare occurrence for him. Through a series of events, he had gotten wind of some information that made him believe that he was going to lose his job. Rick is the consummate professional and the ideal employee. So, thinking that any employer would fire him was beyond belief. As he told me the situation, I could here the frustration in his voice, and the sheer fear about what the future held. When Rick asked for my input, the answer was simple. “Rick, you are one of the best Christian’s I know. Why don’t you ask God to bring you a solution…and ask him for the wisdom and insight to recognize the solution when it arrives?” As I said the words, I could see the light bulb go off above Rick’s head (even though he and I were on the phone). I explained to Rick that God always answers every prayer asked of him…assuming that the person asks it in the correct manner. It has to be free of specific details. It has to relinquish total control of the outcome to God. And it has to be backed by 100% belief that God will provide the right answer.
In Rick’s case, asking God to give him another job or to make the situation change at work was too specific and detailed. It neither put the control of his fate back in God’s hand, nor allowed for enough possible outcomes. He needed to think much broader when making his request. The result: his prayer to God went something like this: “Please bring me a solution to the situation with my job, and give me the ability to see the answer and implement the solution accordingly.” That was it. Simple. Straightforward. Direct.
The next day I was standing in the Pharmacy and my cell phone rang. It was Rick. I asked if I could call him back in a few minutes. With delight and excitement in his voice he said, “You have to call me back because God has answered my prayer.” That’s all I needed to hear. I raced to get my shopping done so I could get to my car and call Rick back. He told me how a headhunter had called him out of the blue with a job that sounded as if it was tailor made for Rick. Rick had an appointment the following day to meet with the recruiter. To make a long story short, Rick had presented his problem to God on a Tuesday. By the following Monday, Rick had been offered the job of his dreams…doing what he excelled in, with tremendous possibilities for the future, and a salary he thought was unattainable. By asking God for a solution to the overall situation, God brought him an answer (in less than 24 hours) that far surpassed what Rick could have even imagined (or even been able to ask for).
So, you think the story should end there. But it doesn’t. While I never doubted that God would answer Rick’s prayers, I began to look at my own work situation. My business was doing well, but not as well as in previous years. I was experiencing immense stress about what to do, and even wondered if I should keep the business moving forward. But then I realized I needed to take my own advice…that same advice I had given to Rick: ask God to bring me a solution. And my prayer to God was almost identical to his.
One day after I made my request, I received an email from a friend about a short-term opportunity that paid good money…enough money to put my finances back on track. I jumped on the chance (because God had given me the wisdom to realize it was there for a reason). I thought I was on my way. However, that’s not where the story ends. As I worked this project, I realized that this job solution was short-term. So again I turned to God and asked him for help. Again, less than 24 hours later, a recruiter called me and presented me with the job of a lifetime. Because I had worked for myself for 6 years, the only job that would fulfill my needs had a laundry list of requirements…and this job had all of them. I honestly doubted that it could be true (yes…my disbelief caused my faith to waiver momentarily) and even contemplated not pursuing the matter. But, I did and in less than a week, I too had found the job of my dreams.
If you’re sitting back in awe of what you’ve read, keep reading…because it only continues.
A business associate, Jerry, called me one day and told me of the terrible situation he was having with his boss. His boss was piling work on him to the point where he could no longer withstand one more item piled on his “to do” list. Plus, the boss had gone behind his back and was attempting to hire a manager to oversee Jerry and his work colleague – yet had not involved either of them in the process. Jerry was torn between frustration at such a heavy workload and anger that he had been left out of a decision that had major impact on him. I gave Jerry the same advice that I had used for myself and Rick. I suggested that he ask God to bring him a solution to the problem at work. I told him not ask for another job, or that his boss change. Instead, the request needed to simple and to the point: bring him a solution to the problem with his job in general.
Two days later I spoke to Jerry and he shared the following story. The day after we spoke, another “incident” had arisen at work. As Jerry was leaving the office, the boss told him that a quote had to be prepared by the next day. Jerry left the office and spent the entire evening working out all the details. That night he finally took my advice and asked God to bring him a solution to this situation at work. He made sure his request wasn’t specifically related to the quote he had just done. Instead, he made it a heartfelt plea from a man who was overworked, frustrated, angry, and completely lost in what to do. Jerry gave the matter to God with complete trust and faith that a solution would arrive. He had no idea what the solution would be – but he trusted it would be the right one – one that fit into God’s plan for his life.
When Jerry arrived at work the next day – with his quote, recommendations and such in hand – he sat down in front of his boss only to discover that his boss had already sent a quote to the client. Jerry looked over the quote and knew it was inaccurate, not feasible, and the consequences would end up right on Jerry’s desk – becoming yet another problem for him to “deal with.” From somewhere inside, Jerry found the ability to speak his mind in a professional manner. He calmly explained in great detail why the quote the boss had sent was flawed. And, he found the words to explain how he would “no longer be a scapegoat” because of other people’s mistakes. It was in that moment that Jerry said he flashed back to our conversation about how the solution that God brought him might be a complete surprise. And it was. At no time did Jerry – or I for that matter – imagine that God’s answer would be to deliver courage. Courage so that Jerry could stand up for what he believed to be right, and set the expectation as to how he wanted to be treated going forward.
When Jerry walked out the boss’ office, he said he felt completely relieved at what had happened. In fact, he said he didn’t care if he lost his job because he knew that this was the plan God had for him. (No: Jerry did not lose his job. In fact, his boss did a complete turnaround and Jerry now has the a job that meets his needs.)
* * * * * * *
While each of the above stories seems to revolve around work situations (and that makes sense because so much of our lives relate to our work) this same approach can apply for any situation.
Each day we are faced with problems on all levels. Some are just little annoyances, while others are major obstacles for which we have not a clue as to how to navigate. Yet each day we have the opportunity to give these problems to God and simply ask for what we need.
Think about a current problem you are facing in your life. Look deep inside yourself and uncover what it is that troubles you most about this problem. If it’s your job, use the stories above to help you pose your request. If your heart has been broken by a friend or loved one, simply ask for God to bring you a solution to the current anguish you are feeling about the situation. It’s important that you remember the following:
- Keep your request simple. Try and limit it to one sentence.
- Base your request on your NEEDS (e.g., help me with my broken heart) versus your WANTS (e.g., make so-and-so love me again).
- Ask for the vision to see the solution when it’s presented (because God doesn’t wield a baseball bat to knock you on the head).
- Believe 100% - and without a shred of doubt – that God will bring you an answer.
If your answer doesn’t arrive in 24 hours, you may have posed the question in the wrong format. So revisit what you asked, and think in more generic, open terms. Then, ask again.
When your answer arrives, you may not initially be aware that it is the solution – somewhat like Jerry. Listen to your heart, and let God’s hand guide you along his chosen path.
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