Hello My Beloved,

I want to share with you a story about a daughter who did not know where to lean. In one case, she leaned in the right direction, and in another, she leaned in the wrong direction. Are you in a spot where you do not know what direction to lean in times of trouble? Look at this story, and hear my voice through it:

There was a young professional named Janell. She worked at a top university, making a generous salary for an entry level position in her field, and getting great benefits. Janell had a difficult supervisor she was under. He was quite the antagonist. She equated him to sandpaper. He would scratch and irritate, and challenge, and agitate this blooming young professional. 

At her wits end, Janell, would pray fervently about her sandpaper supervisor. “Lord, I don’t care if I get any glory for the work I do, but for your name’s sake, shut Him up and shut his attacks down! For your glory alone God! In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Janell continued to pray secretly and continued to excel. This was her pattern—pray, excel, give God glory. Pray, excel, give God glory. 

When Janell came to the decision to quit her job and follow Jesus further on her love adventure to a new job and relocation, she was prepared. Why? Because she leaned toward Jesus. He used her sandpaper supervisor to smooth out some crooks that would have snagged her and left her unprepared for the next season.

Janell followed Jesus boldly and courageously despite the slack she got for her decision. God was providing and giving her all she needed, including a dream job path. 

Janell now had an oily supervisor. He slid through his position and the slick slack rubbed off on Janell. She complained that she could not get a grip on things, and she worked hard and continued to spin her wheels but get nowhere. “I know my previous job and elite education prepared me for this. God, I thought you had me in this.” Janell drew on all she knew and quickly burnt out and was full of resentment towards her oily boss. Instead of prayer was complaint.

Janell did pray however that God would present the oily supervisor with an offer he could not deny to a new job… a year and a half later, God did it! Janell was happy! But, when the opportunity for advancement came, she was not fully prepared because for that year and a half instead of leaning into Jesus as she did in the previous season, she leaned on herself, and it showed in her lack of preparation. She got by, but barely.

But God, as she realigned herself is shaping and molding her as she leans in and meditates on this valuable lesson.

I am crying out to you beloved, to LEAN ON ME. I will hold you and keep you if you allow me to. I have you in the palm of my hand. So, LEAN IN.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

Psalm 37:23

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:5

Beloved, lean into Me. You will find all the direction, strength, clarity, peace, and preparation when you do.

Love, Abba Father