I found myself singing the lyrics to Anne Wilson’s song “God Story” yesterday, my heart overflowing with gratitude.

I’m overjoyed to announce that I’ve finally accepted the job offer that I’ve been waiting for nearly five months. I’ll be perfectly honest – I’d almost given up hope that it would happen at all, and I certainly didn’t anticipate how it would happen. It truly is the latest episode of the God story that is my life.

And now, I feel God leading me to share with you the whole true story of what He’s just walked me through. To God be ALL the glory!

In July, my husband Eric and I were seriously considering moving to a larger house – in a different neighborhood but the same town. We did a tour of the house with the real estate agent, and almost instantly fell in love with it. We were full steam ahead and had even secured financing and signed an offer letter. It was close to being a done deal.

But as God would have it – the very next day was the day I found out that I lost my job. I walked out of that building for the last time feeling humiliated and bereft.

Just like that, I felt my heart and dreams shatter into pieces. The pain took me by surprise with ferocity, and I drifted aimlessly into a state of shock, soon followed by strange grief.

But I wasn’t giving up on my plan so easily.

I continued to grasp at my “dreams” even as they slipped right through my fingers. I reasoned with myself – If I can just get another job quickly, maybe it won’t be too late. We can still make it work.

So with dogged determination, I began what I hoped would be a short period of job searching. A few promising prospects manifested within the next few weeks, and in the beginning of August, I landed a third interview that my husband and I were almost sure would result in a job offer.

In anticipation, Eric and I also resumed the process of buying the larger house. The only thing that needed to happen was for me to send the bank a job offer letter, and then we’d be on our way again.

But another crushing blow came when a week after the interview, I heard nothing back from the company. Days kept passing without any contact, and at last, I couldn’t stand the not-knowing anymore. I called the HR person and was told they chose to offer the job to someone else. (I later discovered that the person they’d offered the job to turned it down, and they reposted the opening without even bothering to tell me.)

I remember that morning right after I finished that devastating call. I retreated to bed and wept like a child – frustration and disappointment consuming me. I couldn’t understand why God was putting me through this.

Clearly, God had said “No,” not just once, but twice – to the house, to our plans, to a quick resolution of our growing problem of losing more than half our income. I was angry and frustrated by everything that was so far beyond my control.

But deep down, I knew I could still trust Him. I knew He had a plan to bring about something good. I knew He wouldn’t abandon us … because God always keeps his promises.

God covered us with so much grace, mercy and love. He continued to provide for our needs, even as the weeks and months went by without a paycheck. He gave Eric and I the push we needed to do a thorough decluttering of our house, eradicating the unorganized chaos that had permeated seemingly every inch of our home. Little by little, we reclaimed our home, and it became our beloved, cozy sanctuary once more.

It was around mid-September that I found myself writing my previous blog – Living Through a Job Season. Although I felt God’s peace and joy in my heart, I still felt utterly lost, unable to see a way out of my dismal circumstances. The enemy had set me and my family in his crosshairs and was relentlessly chipping away at my resolve and confidence.

I couldn’t tell you how many times I felt like giving up. Every rejection email or outright “ghosting” from places I’d interviewed – it left a painful sting in my heart each time. Add that to all the other problems going on in the lives of me and my family members … an unbearable load to carry.

But through it all, God was patient and kind. He held me close every time I felt I couldn’t go on. He lifted the burdens off me just enough that I felt able to keep moving forward. He inspired me with bursts of creativity and filled my heart with songs and hymns, an uncontainable joy that would continuously flow out of me – joy rooted in Him alone. He lovingly sustained me every step of the way with his Word, which I clung to passionately every day.

But still the weeks went by with no job offer, despite frequent interviews. Financial circumstances worsened, and we became increasingly stretched thin. Our worry elevated to desperation. What happens if my unemployment benefits run out? How are we going to provide for our family of five?

I’d reached a whole new level of surrender at this point, and the last stronghold of my pride fell. I’m willing to do whatever you want me to do, God, whatever it is. My heart sank as I seriously considered working a retail job again, as I had back in college … but I was at the point that if that’s what God wanted, I would be OK with it. I would endure it if He had a purpose for it.

I had no choice but to trust that whatever happened, God would provide, but I braced myself for the worst. You’ll be with me, Lord, no matter what happens.

It seemed as if the deck was stacked against us more than we ever expected, but still a flicker of hope burned in my heart. I thought about all the instances in the Bible where God purposely stacked the deck against his followers – David and Goliath, Gideon and the Midianites, and a thousand other examples. The reason? So when the breakthrough finally comes, there is no shadow of a doubt it was God – and God alone – who made it happen.

I’d done several interviews over the past month, and I had three or four solid prospects. The margin was narrowing, and I struggled to calm my nerves as I waited for answers. I just wanted the tension to end and to finally move on with my life and career.

At last, a breakthrough happened – a job offer came.

On the surface, it looked to be exactly what I wanted. It checked almost all the boxes … the only problem was that it was an hour’s drive away, one-way. I would be expected to go to the office three times a week.

I had a strong feeling there would be a second job offer to consider, but it hadn’t materialized yet. So in the meantime, I agonized over whether or not to accept the first offer.

My knee-jerk reaction was to immediately accept the first offer I got … but deep down, something didn’t sit well with me about it. More than once, I nearly threw caution to the wind. I’ll just sign the offer letter and get it over with, I thought. This could be the only chance I have.

But a still, small voice gently nudged my soul – Wait until you talk to Eric. He’d been out of the house for work all day, and I had no way to reach him until he returned home. We always make big decisions together, and I knew this was no exception. So, I decided to sit tight.

After putting the kids to bed that night, Eric and I discussed the offer on the table, and we both expressed hesitation with the long commute and the effect it would have on our family. We agreed to wait and see on the other potential offer first before making a final decision.

“How will I know what God’s will is?” I asked my husband.

He thought for a moment and then said, without hesitation, “He will give you a peace about it.”

The next day, I had a meet-and-greet style interview with the company that I was anticipating a second offer from. They brought me into the office and introduced me to everyone, and then three of them took me out to lunch to get to know me a bit better.

Sure enough, Eric was right. I could feel the Lord’s peace unmistakably. When I walked into the office, my mind kept echoing – “I could see myself working here.” Then at lunch, the three ladies and I had a warm and honest conversation about what it was like working there from their perspective.

All working moms in seasons of life similar to mine, they explained how what they valued most about their workplace was how understanding and accommodating everyone is regarding flexibility and work-life balance.

“I couldn’t work outside the home if it weren’t for this job,” one of them said. “They’re so good about working around your family’s schedule when you need to. We’re all pretty much in the same boat, so everyone understands.”

The peace within me was so strong, it nearly brought me to tears. Wow, God … this is exactly what I prayed for.

I was transparent with them and told them I had another job offer on the table and would need to know quickly if the company planned to give me an offer. They were sympathetic and understanding, assuring me they would let their boss know about the situation.

As we prepared to leave the restaurant, one of the ladies said to me with a smile, “I think you’d fit right in here,” and my heart fluttered at the thought.

Oh God, this feels so right for me … I don’t know if I can bear it if this doesn’t work out. If it’s your will, Lord, I pray the answer will come quickly. But whatever happens, I trust you.

The call came later that day just before evening – the second job offer I’d been praying and hoping for. I thanked them and told them I’d sleep on it and give them an answer the next day.

Eric was sitting beside me when I hung up the phone, and our eyes met. I told him about the offer, and his reaction was immediate. Without thinking, we both knew it was the right choice.

“I would call them back … right now,” he said without hesitation.

“You don’t think I should wait till tomorrow?” I asked.

“Why wait?” he replied. “We both know it’s the right thing to do.”

So, about ten minutes after I’d hung up the phone, I called again and told them I was happy to accept.

Throughout the past five months, I always knew God had a plan, and I knew His way would be so much better than anything I could dream up on my own. My faith was tested, for sure, but I know walking through this stormy season, having no choice but to fully depend on the Lord, has strengthened my faith like nothing else could.

Honestly, I’m falling more in love with Jesus every day – not just because He answered my desperate prayers, but because He is with me through it all – every mountain and every valley. So often, I find my spirit stirring within me when I read a Bible verse or hear a moving worship song or hymn – it’s so strong it brings me to tears. God has been so good to me, even though I’m so undeserving of it. It simply blows me away.

So this past week, as I have prepared for a new chapter to begin, I’ve found myself settling down to relax after the kids are put to bed. I sit in my favorite spot on the couch, just drinking in the contentment that God has filled me with – in my cozy little house that, just a few months ago, I thought was too small. I have a roof over my head, a husband who loves and supports me, children who are helping me grow and learn every day, and so much more – I’ve been so abundantly blessed.

But most of all, I’m thankful to the God who is writing my story, page by page, chapter by chapter. He knows the end from the beginning. I don’t have to worry about the future. He’s already figured it all out. All he wants me to do is love, trust and obey – for there is no other way.