My Testimony: Try It Again!

My 2017 irrevocable blessing testimony started at the end of 2016.

At the end of last year I received news that I would be laid off in May. I was really discouraged because I thought I had passed that test already. Pastor Merritt kept emphasizing to us not to count on our job companies to pay our bills.  It was at that very moment I realized he was right and I knew that I needed a miracle. As he preached, Pastor Merritt told us to remind God of His promises because He can't lie. I told God "remember when I closed on my house and I asked that you would not allow it to close if there was anything in the future that would cause me to lose it...?" I reminded him of this daily.

I received my yearly review in February. Before my manager did my review he apologized and said he entered it in incorrectly. It was below "meets standards." I have never received a rating below "meets and exceeds" in my entire 10 years at my company. He told me to challenge it, which I did but to no avail. No one wanted to admit that they did not read it and just signed it. I was really upset.  I felt like who would want to hire someone with subpar ratings on their job performance. I had three interviews and was confident I would get one and I didn't get any call backs. The feedback that I heard was "you had a perfect interview but the other candidate knows the job."  I was really discouraged. I came to church and Pastor told us to "go back and it will work next time!"

As I received my severance letter I really started praying. My friends started sending me job opportunities from various companies. I tried again, and still didn't get the job. The interview panel called and asked me if they could recommend me for other positions.My Godson was released from foster care so I lost visitation rights. Feelings of discouragement flooded me, causing me to not want to get out of bed. I felt everything was closing in on me. Still I heard the word "go back again, and it will work this time." I did just that.

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On June 1st I received my severance package final notice that morning and a job offer that afternoon. The company never received my review. The hiring manager said she remembered me from 5 years ago and loved my personality and my work ethic. Because of my low review (at my previous job) I got a .5% raise which was nothing.  This job offered me a $6000 dollar raise, not to mention I will receive bonuses. As if that isn't enough, instead of working from home twice a week I will be home 3 days a week. They reinstated all of my vacation days (4 weeks) instead of prorating them. I was a little bummed because I didn't get to keep my severance. But I realize now a job with no severance is better than severance with no job.  I got a call last week from a friend who stated that he loved the way that I was with my Godson and asked if I would be a Godmother to his twins due in August.  Although I may be loosing one child, I will now have two children to love.  

I know that this is just the beginning and that my story isn't over. God is yet opening doors that no man can close... I am ready to receive whatever He has in store. 

-Arica ​​