Well, the last few months had flown by. I was final at a point of my life where I felt content. Attending church and reading my Bible regularly. Learning daily more about God and what He wanted for my life. Can I say that I understood everything. No. But I was at peace where I was at.
Looking back now on what happened next it is clear that the devil did not want me as new Christian to feel at peace or secure. The devil wants to stop every young Christian. The devil wanted me to doubt what I was learning and question whether having Christian Walk was important.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
I was sharing an apartment with a cousin. Things were great as long as we both were going to church reading our Bibles together, but as things do, something changed. My cousin starting working a lot of long hours that pulled her away from church. She started bring over her new friends from work most of them claimed to be Christians but their actions didn’t always show it. The apartment became the new weekend hangout the “friends” were hanging around doing some drinking and smoking. Some of them even offered me to “try this out.” I started to feel uncomfortable and something inside said “this is not a good place for you to be.”
What was I supposed to do. I was a young, just out of High School working a minimum wage job, 20-30 hours a week. I was only able to afford moving out by sharing an apartment with my cousin. I did want to move back to my parents’ house either. (I story will share another time.) BUT inside me I know it was the right thing to do.
So, time to move on.
I began praying, “God if this is what you want me to do, then you have to make it all work.” 3 main steps
- Step 1 – Finding a place…I was able to find a place to rent it would be double what I was currently paying.
- Step 2 – Need furniture…the only thing I had was my twin bed and a dresser.
- Step 3 – Then ask for more hours….my current pay was not going to pay my rent, let alone food and gas for my car.
I didn’t know how it was going to work, but I knew the situation was getting worse.
I started packing and told my cousin I was moving out; she didn’t really understand why it was such a “big deal” or seem to care, which was hard for me to understand, she was the one who influenced me to go to church and eventually get saved. (I would quickly learn that not everyone who is a Christian chooses to follow what the Bible says regarding living a separated life and being a testimony for the Lord.)
Even though things were getting difficult and time was running out on my apartment lease…God is never early but never late. About 5 days after telling my cousin I was moving out, I got a phone call stating that an apartment had opened up and I was able to move in right away…Step 1 done…then to my surprise both my parents and my grandma offered items to help furnish my apartment…Step 2 done…then the “icing on the top” when I got to work that day my supervisor said if I was willing to change departments he could offer me a full time position…Step 3…done.
Wow, I was blown away…God did exactly what he said. He provided. Not only what I need but so much more.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
I moved into my new apartment. (By the way it was bigger and nicer than the one I shared with my cousin.) I had more than enough furnishing to make it a cozy, (sofa, desk, lamps, kitchen table, kitchen supplies and even some fun decorations). The new job was great and provided more opportunities to share my faith. God had provided everything that I needed and more!
This was the first time, but certainly not the last time, that God directed my path just as He promises to.