"Lord, I want to trust you with all my heart. Show me what I need to do to trust in You."
"Quit your job."
"Really?"
"Yes."
That is how my conversation with God went on October 20, 2018. I was actually on the back of our motorcycle headed to a family reunion so I couldn't even tell Doug about it until much later that day. We talked and prayed and God continued to confirm that I had heard him correctly and it was time.
I am resigning in obedience to God. He has made it clear to me that I need to trust Him and step out in faith. I am NOT leaving in a bad place. It is great working here and I will truly miss it, but God has something new for Doug & me. He hasn't shown us what that is yet, but He will!!
Now don't get me wrong, leaving here is very sad and hard for me. I am painfully aware of all that I am being asked to give up.
One day, as I was lamenting to the Lord and telling him all I was giving up, He gently reminded me that there is One who gave up a lot more than me to come down here to earth to save me from my sins.
Have you ever stopped to think about all that Jesus gave up when He came to earth as a baby?
In Philippians 2:7 it says that He emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant - or slave, as it could be translated.
Now just stop and think about that: the Son of God, who is all powerful and has a close position with His Father, chose to give that up for you and me. I don't know about you, but that brings me to my knees.
And if He is able to give that up, can I not give up what He is asking me to give up?
But there was one thing He did not give up - His close relationship with the Father. We have that same relationship available to us!
In John 17:21 Jesus prays "...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us...
Jack, in his sermon on 11/18 said, "Jesus only did what His Father told Him, He was led by the Holy Spirit. Everything Jesus did was intentional....He was always 100% dependent upon the Holy Spirit."
I want that. I want that same relationship with my Father so bad.
So this probably raises some questions in your mind. Here are some that I have been asked:
Are you retiring?
No, I am resigning. I will still need to work.
Are you moving?
As of right now, the Lord has not told us that we are to move. But we are open to what He wants.
What about your other involvements at Grace?
Doug & I serve as Extend Council co-chairs and we also serve once a month at the Connection Desk. For the time being, we will continue on with those areas of service unless the Lord directs otherwise. We will continue to attend Grace.
How can I be praying for you?
Pray that the last few weeks I have here I would finish well. (My last day is Dec 18 but I will be employed by Grace until Dec 31.) Pray the Lord provides an Office Administrator that will take over part of my responsibilities, as well as an executive pastor (XP) or executive director (XD). Above all, pray that I will trust the Lord even when it is hard.
What are your next steps?
On December 19 our whole family leaves to go have Christmas with Abigail in Asia. After that, there are a couple of opportunities we are exploring but nothing firm for sure.
My 15 years working for Grace have been amazing. The pastors, staff, and elders I have worked with have all been wonderful and gracious to me. I would like to say thank you to all of them. And thank you to each of you I have interacted with in the office.
And now it is time to say goodbye.
Trusting in Him,
Janelle Paden
Office Manager