It was one night when I was in my room, before God, I knew that completing my degree program in the army would be tough as I would be stretched for time and energy as I shuffle in and out from camp, and finding time to complete my assignments. As such I made God a pact, that if he allowed me to complete my degree course before I ORDed I would go on-board the Doulos to serve for a period of 3 months before I even start work. My dad used to serve with the same organization, Operation Mobilization, who owns Doulos in India for 14 months in the past thus I knew about Doulos and her ministry.
At that time, I thought it would be great, as I would finish my degree, and I get to travel which I love, and to just allow God to open my eyes. And I also thought that having traveled would serve as an advantage in my resume to my prospective employers. Yet over time, and a case of a mix-up of results resulting in a wrong failure grade, I forgot about this pact which I made with God and I started looking for a job after I ORDed. Yet I seemed to be hitting a brick wall in my job search as I had only few replies, all for positions which were not my desired line of work. The economy was bad, and so I thought I give it more time, not takings too hard.
But it was the on the night of the 6th of March 2009, after having dinner with my cell group at Marina Square, and after a Starbucks coffee with Julian at United Square, I went home prepared to spend an extended period before the Lord as I knew that I would not sleep that early as I had coffee earlier. In my quiet time, I read Romans 10 that night and verse 14 just leaped out of the page towards me.
Romans 10:14-15
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
And I thought wow, is this the word God has for me for the upcoming G12 conference? And that was what I truly thought it was. Yet as the night drew on, God reminded me of my pact with him, and it totally caught me by surprise. I was asking God did I really say that? And as I asked, I got pleasantly reminded that I indeed said that before him. I continued to ask, and I just had a feeling that God was smiling, not saying anything, just smiling knowing that I had said it. I proceeded to debate and argue on how I had already planed out things, my work, and life. Yet his expression never changed. And I asked him to allow me to sleep first, and I did.
I woke up the next day and seriously listed down into writing some goals for the year 2009, and drawing up the pros and cons on why I should join Doulos and I had more cons for entering Doulos and I thought I had the issue sorted out and I felt fine.
Yet it was five days after that Friday night, on Tuesday night, after a short run, I sat under a pavilion and God spoke. Firstly he reminded me of a movie I watch online earlier that day, “Employee of the month”, where by the protagonists were just employees of a supermarket, yet they led good lives. It led me to see that my parents were also never holding great appointments yet they were able to bring me and my brother up without problems. It left me thinking if earning money was everything?
Secondly, I was presented with two opportunities to work, one for a backpacker’s inn, 24 hour shift paying $120 per day to help in the operations of the place, where by I get to talk to people, and the job would not be too tough. The other was with a teaching company to help teach English for $45 per hour. I was greatly interested in the first option over the second though I would earn the same amount with 3 hours of teaching. That left me pondering. I am still young, my peers are either in the army or university, even the girls. Do I really need to start work that early? Is it a season where I can enjoy myself and let God open my eyes?
Yet it was this which God said that put the final nail in the coffin. God asked me why do I think I am still jobless? Recession maybe? But after army, God said I was ready, then why do I seem to be drawing a blank in looking for a job?
Then God spoke saying, even the recession is an excuse in which I give myself for not being able to find a job. God is God, He Will Open Doors, No One Else Can Shut, And Shut Doors No One Else Can Open. And then I knew that the JOB door was shut, when God said I was ready for the next part of my life, he did not mean work.
Humbly I say that I claim God’s promises of prosperity and favor, and thus when God says that I am ready, I expected that out of 10 resumes I sent out, all would reply and I would then have to see which one is God is leading me to. Therefore I realize the reason that I can’t find a job is not because of my capabilities, but he has not opened the door.
It was then that I again say that God you are Sovereign. Thank you for blessing me with my degree, and I will keep my side of the pact.
It was decided, that I will keep My Pact With God.
