Post 20: my testimony
Growing up, I feel like I heard the word testimony get brought up a lot. I was always a little bummed out that I didn’t really have one, but within the past year (though it was tough - to say the least) I think I finally figured mine out.
Last February, I had been going through a phase in life where nothing felt settled. My home didn’t feel like my home, my friendships were shifting and changing and I was incredibly unhappy. I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, or at least I didn’t know what I was looking for. I wasn’t sure who to lean on except for Jesus. Of course, I talked to my mom all the time, and my friend Maria was also a huge part, but none of it made any sense without Him.
Through the months following February 2021, I was praying a LOT about where I needed to be, because I had absolutely no clue … even though I had already convinced myself that I was ready to move back to Houston. What’s interesting in that is there was a sort of unrest in that decision too. Deep down, it didn’t feel right. In the moment, I was 100% positive, but something was off. It didn’t matter though, I had made the choice. I started applying to jobs and even went as far as to tour apartments. My mind was made … but that doesn’t mean His was.
Truthfully, none of the jobs sounded like something I would enjoy in the long run, but they would be my stepping stone, right?
Here’s the funny thing about Jesus: He already knows our path. He knew that Houston wasn’t where I needed to be. He knew that something better was ahead, I just couldn’t see it yet. He knew, but I didn’t and I didn’t want to wait.
So when none of these jobs worked out (I applied to at least 25) I started to rethink what I was doing. I began talking to God even more. There was nothing else to do but to pray for guidance, because clearly I was lost and anxious. What do you do when all you feel is unrest?
It’s been a whole year, and I don’t have an easy answer. The only constant thing I did was focus on my relationship with Jesus. I bought my first bible, started writing about my relationship with Him and here I am.
I stopped applying to jobs and just focused on my life here in Austin. I put the dream job on the back burner because I knew that it would find me (in the cheesiest way possible) … and it did.
In October, I moved to the property I was working at and it was amazing - until it wasn’t. After I had made the move, we were told that the property was being sold and I had to move out by the close date. Woohoo!! Just kidding. It felt like my life was crumpling. I didn’t know where I would be living or working in within the next 2 months and nothing felt safe. So I kept praying, except this time around, I was thanking Jesus. I was thanking Him for getting me that dream job and and an even better home.
Then came November. I still had no answers for anything, so I got on Indeed and was applying to other jobs - I felt like this might be the time. If not now, then when? I happened to find a place that checked all the boxes. It seemed almost too good to be true, but I applied anyway.
And let me share a secret, it’s never too good to be true. When something is from Jesus, we get the gold. I got that job, and it is a dream. I also got that new home that’s even better than the old one, and the best part about it? It’s only 2 blocks from that dream job. I literally couldn’t have asked for anything better.
In the past year, I have learned how intentional our Father truly is. We have the free will to do what we want, but that gold? It doesn’t shine without Him.