Have you ever jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire?
I loved my job.
It really was a job that had a lot of things I really loved. I knew that I was making a difference and that was so important to me.
But I felt frustrated, unappreciated, confused, and stuck. I had hit a glass ceiling where I was. I was told that I would not be promoted, I was too young. There was nothing I could do about that.
It was time to move on.
I started the job hunt. It didn’t take long to find another job. It seemed like a dream.
1 application, 1 job interview, 1 new job.
I jumped right out of that frying pan into my new job.
It started off great. I really liked being in charge. I was getting the hang of the new responsibilities and felt like I was making a difference.
Then the crazy started.
When I say crazy I mean crazy. I was the director of a national chain child care facility. After just 3 weeks on the job one of my employees hot lined another employee for child abuse.
It was a one day investigation in which I was told that they were not able to substantiate the charge. I had to tell the parents of 100 children what had happened that day. It went much better than I thought it would.
The next day the employee who made the call did not show up on time to work, I wrote her up. She did come in just in time for the news crew to show up.
I did not want to be on the News.
I have never dreamed of being on the news that was for sure. The parents withdrew their child and I was hoping it was going to settle down.
The next day I was contacted by a local detective. I had to go to the police station to make an offical statement.
Another thing I that was not on my bucket list. This is the point in which I began to think that I had jumped into the fire……
I also was accused for creating a hostile work environment. The story of the fire goes on and on.
Since school was a challenge for me never, never, never give up was deeply ingrained in my character. I was determined to make it work. I was the boss. I could make it right, I just knew I could.
I was so stressed……I could not sleep, I could not eat.
I prayed constantly, asking the Lord for wisdom. I wanted to do a good job. I wanted to be able to be the leader the staff needed. Both the stress and the Lord’s presence were intense during this time.
This intense period of time only lasted for 3 months. I finally heard the Lord clearly, not that He had not been talking I was just struggling to believe I was hearing Him right.
It was His will to step out in faith and walk away.
I resigned and trusted for the next job to come along. It did.
When I look back on this time I remember it as being a bitter sweet time with the Lord. The refining fire was intense but the dependence on my Lord brought me to the place I needed to take another leap of faith and make an even bigger change in my life.
Have you experienced the refiner’s fire? How did it grow your faith?
Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.
Daniel 3: 28
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What an important story and lesson, Rayna. Sometimes what seems like the answer in the moment is not what we need in the end. I’ve experienced the refiner’s fire in many different areas of my life. Currently, I’m experiencing his refining fire as I extricate myself from a volunteer opportunity that looked great going in, but it has turned out to be a nightmare of dealing with those who don’t understand leadership. Just when we get momentum, they throw a wrench into the works. (I now know what this expression means on a new level.) My goal now is leaving well so I can focus on my Best Yes. It’s strengthened my faith by showing me God has something better for me, for which I have to remove this blockage of my time and energy.
Rhonda,
Funny how we need to experience that fire repeatedly in our lives. He is so faithful to continue working on us in each new situation, causing us to look more and more like Him. I know the leaving is hard but I am excited to hear the blessings God has for you as you obey. Be encouraged as you move into what is next!
Blessings,
Rayna
Rayna, whew..that had to be very, very stressful! To answer your question about the refiners fire..there are so many to choose from, so for today, I will share how it causes me to grow.
I “like” to take charge, make things happen..etc..when I am being refined (daily with “little” or “big” things, I am in the process of growing and becoming less controlling..at least for the moment. But honestly, there’s growth over time.
Thanks for sharing about your experience Mary Lou! I too like to be in charge. It is definitely a refining process to let go of the idea that we are in control of anything. Blessings in the continued journey! Rayna
My husband and I went through something similar years ago. Our now 29-year-old son was about 3-years-old when my husband felt God was telling him to quit what he was doing and look for something else. It’s a wonderful story from there of how God provided for us with just the right job for him.
Wow! What an awful experience! But, oh, what a wonderful God who speaks to us and leads and guides us through these times!! How gracious of Him to use even these times when we do what we think is best to teach us some important life lessons. Have I been in the refiner’s fire? More times than I can count! The wonderful thing is, though, that as I look back at those times I remember the positive lessons learned and how it changed me for the better, not the pain in the midst of the struggle. That allows me to hold on tight to the Lord as He brings me through this present fire I find myself in…
Thank you so much, Rayna, for a profound post!
Kerry,
Thanks so much for the words of encouragement! I am glad to hear that our Lord’s faithfulness in the fires is fueling during this time in your life. He is good!
Blessings,
Rayna
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This is such an important lesson Rayna! I learned this four years ago when I left my job as a pastor. I job I loved and felt fulfilled in every day. Except that the environment was toxic and the senior pastors became untenable to work for. This story from Daniel is the one God used over and over to comfort and guide me. My favorite promise from this story is that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego emerged from the fire without a scorch or a singe nor did they smell like smoke. Only their bondages were burned off. What an amazing promise when we are in the fire. Only our bondages will be burned, we will be preserved. Thank you so much for sharing this!
I love this promise as well, “Only our bondages will be burned, we will be preserved.” Such an amazing truth in a simple powerfully written sentence!
Blessings,
Rayna