Before the Snow Flies
Forging my car through deep, icy ruts was difficult and nerve-racking. It was unusual to have such a large amount of snow dumped on us this early in the season. Snow falls quickly in Colorado, and our city was not prepared to remove the heavy snow fast enough, so for three weeks, drivers barreled through unplowed snow, creating deep furrows of thick ice.
But sometimes you just have to brave the elements to do some shopping.
As I headed back home from my venture, suddenly I burst into laughter. The roads were just as bad as they’d been on my way into town, but instead of hunching over the steering wheel trying to deal with them, I unexpectedly exploded in glee.
I call this “holy laughter.” It’s when the joy of the Lord takes over and you laugh as you rejoice with Him. It’s a simple pleasure, really, and just fun. Of course, it is perfectly fine to have a good time with the Lord, taking joy in the work of His hands.
And why were we rejoicing together?
The story began a year earlier in this same season of winter when I first heard the news: The structure of my long-time job was changing. Jobs do change at times, but I’d worked in this correctional setting for many years and had become burned out, as so many do from the stress and demands of a job.
With the new guidelines I would still put in forty hours a week at my regular job, my home, as it was called. But now everyone at my level were being asked to fill in for others as needed. For example, vacations, sick time, and training would take me to other areas in my workplace while employees were away from their desks or while empty positions were waiting to be filled.
This new policy may work well in small facilities, but I worked in a mega facility, spanning eighty acres, and the walking distance from the entrance to some areas was often a quarter of a mile.
I followed this new work plan for six months, and I became even more tired than I already was. I was well-equipped to handle one job, but adding in the distance between offices, differing work practices, policies, and people, and additional duties made me begin to feel stretched. Factor in heat and blizzards while walking to the various areas, and I had approached my limit. Walking in the early morning in extremely cold winter conditions exacerbated my bronchial problems.
As a severe asthmatic, I knew I needed to cut back on work, so I began to ask God for a part-time job that would allow me to work less and spend some time with my grandchildren. I also asked others I trusted to pray.
Instead of my load at work lightening, it increased. I was asked to leave my desk again, not only to perform the extra duties but also to begin working two afternoons a week in another area.
That’s when I knew it was time to make a decision. My workload, not counting the filling in for other areas, had now increased from forty hours per week to forty-six. But I was not allowed to count overtime or accumulate compensation. All the work was to be accomplished in a regular workweek. As I pondered this problem and prayed about my desire to lighten my workload, I kept hearing the Lord’s voice: “Before the snow flies.”
What did He mean? Would I have a job by then? Was I supposed to leave my position before the snow flies?
Lord, what are you saying to me?
I started interviewing for other jobs, but nothing seemed appropriate or worked with the schedule I wanted, so I hung on to the job I had.
However, one morning I woke up sick, and I knew without a doubt that this was the day I was to give notice and watch for the employment doors the Lord was going to open for me. I just felt in my spirit that this was the day to speak. So I did.
Later that day, while reclining on the couch, not feeling well and covered with a blanket, I saw a newscast on television. Speaking of an area high in the Colorado mountains, the newscaster said, “Snow is flying in Colorado.”
I laughed, thinking of that phrase the Lord had given me: “Before the snow flies.”
My, how the Lord had arranged this event! I knew then that my obedience was needed before the snow fell. I had made my requests known to the Lord. He asked me to step out in faith and let go of my fears, and I had cut it to the wire.
After interviewing for three months, I was able to cut back as I wanted to for my health with a couple of part-time jobs. One came about right away with some work from home for a friend. Then another person offered me a job with the opportunity to work around the times I watched my grandchildren. Surprisingly, this marketing and social media employment came because of my computer knowledge and my calm voice. The business owner had even planned to fix up an office for me. I certainly never considered someone would create a job for me. There was no way my imagination could have dreamed of working with social media.
And six months earlier, when I had started petitioning the throne, how could I know that the job I would receive did not even exist yet? Perhaps the thought process of my future employer began at that time.
On this cold January day, I had driven the rutted, snowy streets of my town to shop. And as most small-town Americans know, local shopping is the social center for small towns. I came across two friends and told the story of how I acquired the jobs. One friend said, “I can see how this tickles you.”
It did, indeed, tickle me. So as I drove home, I exploded with the joyous laughter of someone watching God’s plans unfold precisely and completely, in God’s way and in His timing.
Stepping out in faith for work provision is never easy, and because this was not the first time I had stepped out in faith, I already knew that the Lord knows the plans for us well in advance of our need. He is not surprised when we become burned out or tired. He has doors in place for us to step through, and while we are constrained by time, He is not.
Seek.
Knock.
He will answer. Laughter and rejoicing are just around the corner.