In the spring of 2012, I lost my job. The next 6 months turned into a financial nightmare. I wound up living on what was left of my savings and my retirement. When that ran out, I got a part-time job. It helped, but it wasn't enough. Bills began to pile up, creditors were calling me and I was getting cancellation notices in the mail. I tried applying for assistance, but I wasn't eligible. I didn't know what I was going to do. My faith was severely tested. My writing suffered as well, but I tried to write some as a way to feel calm in a stressful situation.
I made my situation known to my family, friends and church. Money began to pour in from every direction. I was amazed at how generously people gave. Some of the most generous gifts were from people I hardly knew. As I began to trust in the Lord's provision more and more, I knew He would see to my needs...and He did. Sometimes it was at the eleventh hour, but the funds I needed always seemed to be there just when I needed it.
At the end of 2012, I landed a full-time position. The job wasn't ideal, but it was a regular paycheck for which I was very thankful. It gave me a chance to start over and rebuild my life piece by piece.
It's been a little over a year since I took that job and I still have a ways to go to recover from the debt I found myself in, but I'm headed in the right direction.
I still don't understand why I had to go through such a difficult time, but I'm thankful for the lesson it taught me. My trust muscles were stretched like they had never been stretched before and the end result is a deeper faith and trust in the Lord's provision and faithfulness (Ps. 145:13-16).
It has also helped me to recommit once again to my writing and other creative projects. The Creator gave me a creative spirit and it is my resposibility as His creation to fulfill what He designed me to be.
Getting a fresh start can open up a host of new opportunities and present a realm of possibilities. Happy New Year!