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Last Friday my world got turned upside down. I lost my job. (Again.)

Unfortunately, I'm sure many of you reading this column have found yourself in similar situations. It's definitely not fun.

Up until 2001 I had never left a job I didn't want to leave on my own. Then it happened… I got laid off. I was devastated. It came as quite a surprise to me, although in retrospect I could clearly see God had prepared me. But no matter how prepared you are, losing your job, your source of income, your source of independence (especially when you are a single woman who lives on her own) – well… it's just a very scary place to be.

It took me several months to find a job. But I did find a job… not just any job… but a great job. In fact, it was the perfect job for me. I loved it! I went to work for a large Christian publishing company – the perfect place for someone like me… a consumer of Christian books and music. In the three years I worked there… never once did I consider quitting. I loved my job. In fact, on the day I received the dreaded news… that my position was being eliminated, I had only hours earlier told me boss how much I loved my job. (Talk about irony.)

I was crushed! Devastated! Angry! I couldn't believe God would allow this. Why? I asked Him over and over. I never heard an answer. I still loved Him though… even in His silence. I took on a temporary job as I continued to seek employment. I interviewed for a couple of jobs I would have loved … but no offers were made. One position I interviewed for took 2 months of my life. I had multiple interviews, phone interviews, online assessments. I even wrote two marketing plans as part of my job interview. Then I was told I was their second choice. (It's not like the Miss America pageant where the second runner up actually wins something. There are no prizes for second place when it comes to a job interview. Being second didn't make me feel better.)

Ultimately I did accept an offer from a company that was completely outside of my comfort zone. That was four months ago. It was unique opportunity… I would be working from home and traveling some as the Director of Marketing for a museum. It was exciting! The next four months of my life were consumed by this job. I worked longer and harder in this position that I had ever worked in my life.

On Friday I got the call… my position was being eliminated. They were making some changes and no longer needed me. (Ever felt like you were the last item left on the clearance rack? This must be it.)

"God, what on earth are you doing to me? Why does this keep happening to me? How much more do I have to take?"

I've suffered so much personal loss in the last 5 years I didn't know what to do. So I did the only thing I could do… I laid all these things down at His feet and I prayed. But I knew my prayers alone were not enough. I needed others to intercede for me. I sent an urgent prayer request to almost everyone I knew. Here's the prayer request I emailed: "Please pray for me. Please pray that I find peace in the midst of crisis. Also pray that doors are immediately opened and that I am able to find a job so quickly that the only explanation that could be given is that is it OF GOD. He will get all the praise and glory."

I prayed for a miracle. Then I waited. (This is a hard thing for me to do… especially when I struggle with "control" over my life.)

I had just lost my job and had little time to spare before leaving on a mission trip. In fact, I leave in less than 3 weeks for a trip to Kenya. My personal prayer was to find the right job very very quickly. So quickly in fact, that the only answer would be a miracle performed by God.

I asked, believed and received! I got a job offer – TODAY! (Praise the Lord!)

There is no other explanation for what happened or why it happened – other than God answering my prayer for a miracle.

On the very day I sent out my email prayer request I received a phone call from the CEO of a company where a friend of mine from church works. She had forwarded my resume to him. He told me he'd been looking for months for a marketing person. We had an hour long impromptu interview right then and the Chief Sales Officer of the company was conference-called in. From there we scheduled a face to face interview for Tuesday– and once again the CSO was conference-called in.

Needless to say this was an amazing meeting. We met for about an hour and a half and covered lots of territory. As with most interviews I was expecting the standard, "let us take some time to think about this and we'll get back to you" and instead I was amazed when he made me an offer right there on the spot. I can't say I was surprised because I was asking God for a miracle and I honestly was expecting one.

It is truly amazing and defies explanation. I've been in the business world for 14 years and nothing ever happens this quickly. Most jobs I'm looking for would take 1 to 2 months at the minimum to iron out an offer. And it's more likely it would take 5 to 6 months to find a job like this. Not 2 days.

The answer is simple – God gave me the miracle I asked for.

I've been a Christian for a number of years. I would like to believe that I am always living out my faith… every day. But the sad truth is… I know that I don't. In fact, I think this is probably one of the first times I've ever prayed for a miracle – and specifically a miracle for me.

I wonder how many blessings we miss out on because we don't ask.

I'm not suggesting we constantly badger God with needless prayers. But He loves and cares for us and wants to give us every good and perfect gift… just like a parent wants for their child. We do not have because we do not ask. However, the key in asking should be "what are my motives?"

My motives in praying for a miracle were selfish on some level – because I did need a job and I needed it very quickly. But I knew in praying for a miracle… when answered, the only explanation would be God.

I did nothing to deserve this miracle.

He gets all the praise and glory!

Will you join me in praising God for His amazing grace and love?

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

The First Sin