“Blessed is the person who remains faithful under trials, because when he succeeds is passing such a test, he will receive as his reward the life which God has promised to those who love him.”

–James 1:12 (Today’s English Version)

Testing. Trails. Adversity.

These things are just as much a part of life as is joy, peace, and prosperity.

However, in a society like ours where style is valued over substance and instant results are valued over patience, those first set of character traits can get overlooked or even dismissed.

We all know that in this thing we call life there will be testing of one’s character or trials to endure or adversity to overcome.

There is no escaping it for anybody.

As of now, I’m going through one of those periods.

I was let go from my job on February 2nd.

For those who don’t know, I was a Mortgage Loan Officer for Chase Bank for the past two years.  I’ve worked in the mortgage industry since 2002.

Nine years of riding that rollercoaster of an industry.  And it ended abruptly.

I must write with a little bit of sadness and some regret.  But it is expected in a commission-compensated business.

So what do I do now?

I know look for another job.  File for unemployment.  Clean up the resume. Network.

I will do all those things.

But, I’m asking a question a little deeper.  So what do I do now?

I must admit as a Christian this is one of the hardest things to deal with in my walk with Christ.

Do I just plow ahead and do things I need to do in order to secure employment?  Or do I wait on God for his guidance?

I know for someone of you reading this will agree with the first question of the last paragraph.  As there will be others who will agree with the second question of the paragraph.

I guess this is one of those moments where the rubber hits the proverbial road.

As a man, I want to do everything I can to provide for my family.  But I must admit I feel something different is happening as I’m going through this trial or adversity.

I will admit I don’t like it.  I will not deny that.  However, there is something  that wants to pull me into a new direction.  I don’t know what it is yet.

So I guess I will have to trust God’s guidance on where he wants to me to go.  But, it doesn’t make it any easier because I want an instant result and to resume my life right where it was before I lost my job.

I wrote all of this to say that we all will go through trials or testing or adversity in our lives.  Even if everything in your life has gone well so far.  Just keep on living and I will guarantee that you will see the other side.

But the key is how do we handle it.  I must admit I want to handle it in my own strength.  I’m a man…darn it!  I’m in this situation and I need to get myself out of it.

However, we have a God who says to come me with your burdens or worries or anxieties or issues and lay them at my feet.  I will give you peace that goes beyond human understanding.

I must admit I still this one of the hardest thing to do as a Christian.  Can I get out of my own way and let God be God in every area of my life. Not in the areas I’ve allowed Him into my life or the areas I’ve put on a good face for the public (friends, family,  job, or church) .

So for those who are struggling with the same problem as I am….please remember God does know that and he wants us to trust Him no matter what.