Mar 25, 2020
By Sarina Gumness
“For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely
undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes.
To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete
destruction.”
—Cynthia Occelli
Change is an occurrence in everyone’s life. Sometimes we just wake up and our life changes. Lately, I have been reflecting a lot on change, as well as looking into my life and seeing what needs to be changed. Sometimes the question comes to my mind—does God change His plans for us?
For the past couple of months, I have been waiting to start this new job. Yes, I said a couple of months. Due to my pregnancy, I cannot complete one of the physical tests called a weight capacity. I’ve been doing many phone calls back and forth between my OBGYN and the job trying to get certain things done. It’s been testing my patience very much—I’ve had to learn to just step back and pray. I have always been the type of person that likes the
independence of working and being able to pay my bills. But lately, that has changed and I’ve had to learn to be comfortable relying on my husband to pay the bills, with the occasional help from my parents. When I quit my second job back in December, I expected to be low on funds with only my one part-time job for a month. I thought that by January I would be starting my new job with the school district. Little did I know that here I am in March and I don’t even have a start date for the school district anymore.
Last Friday, I had a frustrating conversation with the district—the conversation ended with me still having no idea how much longer I was going to be waiting. I decided to hop on my computer and start to fill out job applications. I have a kid on the way and I want to be able to help support my family, but I also want to do something that makes me happy. Sitting at home waiting is not doing that! When browsing the internet I found a job to apply for with Petsmart where I would basically be a dog groomer trainee. They give you a paid training/education and then you shadow the groomers they already have. This felt like a dream to me because of my love for animals. I felt excitement for something I haven’t felt in a while. So I filled out the application.
Now I am in the wait—I am in the wait of my change trying to understand it. I wait for a sign from God—which job is the right one for me now? Do I go with the job where I work with special needs children or do I go with the job where I would help dogs feel most beautiful? Or can I do both? I believe whichever one, God will show me somehow. This is just the midst of my change, but maybe change is good. It is hard but it can be good. We don’t always immediately understand it. Thankfully we have a big God in the lead.
He changes times and seasons,
He removes kings and raises up others,
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning,
He reveals deep and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness and light dwells with him.”
—Daniel 2:21-22