Palmer Testimony – Waiting Well
I believe there is a time to share and a time to be quiet. Today is one of those times to share. Sometimes as Christians, it is assumed that we are not supposed to suffer or go through anything challenging. Well, let me dispel that myth for you! The Bible tells us that God makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. That said, as you read my testimony, I pray your spirit and heart are encouraged and that you find peace in knowing that God is in control…even when things are tough! He is an intentional God and His plans are strategic!
In July 2016, my family relocated from Delaware to North Carolina. This was a faith move, as my husband had just completed 20 gratifying years in the Air Force and felt God was leading us to retire in North Carolina. Admittedly, I struggled at first with the idea because most of my family lived in North Carolina. Because I had not lived there for over 20 years, I was not sure if the dynamic of our relationships would change. I worried about stuff that maybe I should not have. In addition to that, I also had strong ties to my church in Delaware. I was actively involved with the Youth Ministry and the thought of walking away from the church was difficult for me. For almost two months, I wrestled internally with the idea of leaving. Even while making plans and talking to people about moving, I still struggled inside. Then one morning, I got up to pray and told God I was not going to come out of my prayer closet until he released me from this internal struggle. I needed some peace about this move. I had no idea how long it was going to take, but on that Saturday morning, I was committed like Jacob to hold on until I got a blessing. For almost three hours I prayed, I cried, I was quiet, and then it happened. The Holy Spirit began to minister to me through Jeremiah 17:7-8 and I felt the peace of God sweep over me like nothing I had ever felt. Every concern I could muster to imagine, He said, “I got it.” Then I got clear instructions on what I needed to do, which was simply to keep my roots planted deep. I left out of that closet, kissed my husband and remember telling him, “God said it’s okay to go.” After that day, all our preparations with selling our home in Delaware and building a new home in North Carolina just started working out…well at least it seemed.
When we arrived in North Carolina, neither my husband or I had secured a job. We had been looking, but nothing had come through for us. He was actually still getting military pay, and I had filed for unemployment prior to leaving Delaware. Usually, this was how things worked with our military moves. However, with this move, I was denied unemployment. I appealed and was denied again, making this the first time in my adult life that I did not have my own income coming in. It was not a good feeling. For two months, my husband had gone on interviews but was not landing anything. I was not even getting called for interviews. I took a part-time job to help a little, but because we were building a home, my children were attending the school zoned for that address and not the apartment where we lived. This meant I had to provide transportation from and to school every day. So, wherever I worked, I had to come in after 7 am and be off by 2 pm. I even tried to put in an “ineligible rider” request but was denied for that. All of these denials were really pulling at my faith. As the days turned to weeks, and the weeks to months and neither of us could find work, I really started wondering if, in fact, I heard God correctly that morning in my closet. Of course, I did, but the enemy was trying to mess with my thoughts. Then we got a call one day that put my God to the test! The lenders for the new home contacted us to say they needed proof of employment from my husband within 30 days in order for construction to continue since he was the primary on our VA loan. What do you do? We could not create him a job, so we just had to pray and trust God.
Let me tell you what happened next! On day 29, in the eleventh hour, my husband got a job offer. When we submitted the letter to the lenders they told us they could not waive the VA Funding fee because my husband’s rating was still pending. Naturally, we asked if they could use my VA certificate and they said they would try. Three days later, I checked my e-mail and saw one from them. The subject read Congratulations! God worked this loan out so that they were able to use my VA instead of my husbands to qualify us, even though I did not have a job!!! Within a month, near the closing of our home, God not only blessed me with one job interview but three! Two were State jobs and one Federal government, all starting in November, which would allow me time to move into my house without needing to ask for time off, and time to get my kids on the bus. I’m convinced He is a strategic and intentional God!
This is my testimony, for three months we survived off of one income, something we had not had to do in years. We truly had no idea where money was going to come from, but we trusted God to be our source. Yes, there were some tough days, and days I had to remind God of His promises to me (speak the Word). There were nights I cried because I did not understand. There were days of frustration, but I still believed God could work it out. It just had to happen in His time and not mine. He made provision for us, not just financially, but blessed us with favor. We never missed a bill, never missed a meal, and never had to borrow from anyone. It pays to serve and trust God. When you do the possible, God will do the impossible in your life. This journey was about trusting Him and waiting well. Be encouraged!
“I will remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” – Psalm 26:13-14