2019 was a rollercoaster year for me.

Christmas 2018 was when I tendered my resignation at the student care centre I had been working at for several years. There, I saw how my company served the needs of the vulnerable and the less privileged families in the community, and it fuelled my decision to work in the social services sector once I graduated from university.

So even though I had decided to make a switch from student care, I was still at a loss over what to do following my resignation. But I chose to trust God, believing that He had better plans for me.

God is a good, good Father who knows us better than we know ourselves.

Months passed as I sent my resumes out, and I faced either rejections or no replies. I remembered crying out to God in despair: “Why, God? I’ve applied to so many companies but they have either rejected me or never called back. If it is Your will, please open the door for me.”

Waiting upon the Lord and being jobless for six months was stressful as my finances depleted month by month. But through one of my devotions, I remembered that God is a good good Father.

This was what I journalled: “God is a good, good Father who knows us better than we know ourselves. As I lay my desires before Him, He will take them and give what is good for me, even when I, in my limited perspective, am unable to see the reasons for His choices.”

God eventually opened a door six months later – right back into a student care centre!

That was a tough decision for me to make. But I told God after much wrestling: “Lord, Your will be done. If you want me back into a student care centre, so be it.”

Working in a student care centre is a satisfying job, though it is demanding and tiring at times. But as the years have passed, I have seen the hand of God in my life through this work. I believe that He wants me to be a blessing and impact to my students. 

Being back in a student care centre also allowed me to work on my public speaking skills as I used to be afraid of speaking in public when I first started teaching. I have developed skills, grown in my workplace and learnt to be faithful in the tasks that I am assigned to do.

Now, no matter where I am placed, I choose to be salt and light in my workplace.

I may never know why God makes certain decisions, but I trust that He knows and that His plans are better than mine. God has our good in mind and His will is always for our good – even if we can’t see how.

Truly, even though we may go through disappointment and pain, God is working all things for our good (Romans 8:28).

In disappointment, we can look to Him. And as we bring our desires to Him and lay them at His feet, He hears our prayers and chooses when and how to answer them.

Through the trials of life, I hold this verse dearly to my heart.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2)

No matter what hardships, pain and trials we face, we can cling to God tightly and lean on Him, knowing that He is always there.

I still dream of entering into social services.

However, since God has closed that door, it may not be the right time to do so for me. So, for now, I’m contented to be where I am, serving the children in my student care.

I resolve to remember God’s faithfulness in my life.

As I reflect on the past seven years of my working life, I see that God has set me where He wants me to be. He is constantly moulding me into who He wants me to become, and has used countless lessons to teach me what it means to surrender to His will. 

Whatever comes my way in 2020, I resolve to remember God’s faithfulness in my life by counting life’s simple blessings.

For like the Israelites, who immediately started complaining after being brought out of slavery, I’m also quick to forget what God has done for me and take his blessings for granted. Knowing that His ways are higher, I will continue to trust in what God has in store for me in 2020.

May we never cease to forget what God has done in our lives. Like David, may we also say: “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds” (Psalm 9:1).

This was a submission to our “Write your 2020 story” giveaway, which ended on January 31, 2020. Jeanette wins herself an exclusive set of metal straws. Congratulations! 

Got a story about your journey with God? You can still send it to [email protected]!