Have you ever prayed to God for something and then you receive that blessing only to find yourself complaining about things that the particular blessing brings with it?  Things that you didn’t really think about?  The associated cost? No? Just Me? Well, sit back so I can share a little bit about whats been going on with me this past month and I’ve been completely MIA from the blog.

From the last post, I’m sure you all could discern that I picked up a part-job to supplement my entrepreneurial income. My reasons for getting the job were solely to help fund my ROTH IRA, as is this is the first year I plan to fully fund it by putting in $5500, but I also wanted to pay for what I shall call a professional development trip that cost quite a pretty penny. Anything remaining would, of course, be divided up amongst the household needs and student loans.

I knew that the only way I could fund this “professional development” trip was by getting another job so while looking for the perfect place to offer up some of my time I was also applying to full-time jobs intermittently. I say intermittently because while I was actively looking for a job, there were some days I didn’t have it in me to fill in my job history after uploading a perfectly crafted resume.

I was really ready to get back out there in the workforce, so I prayed and faithfully sowed my seeds (paid tithes) and named my seeds a job offer.  To make a long story short in April I had two job interviews and walked away with two jobs!

This is great right? I’m gainfully employed, making extra money at my “part-time” and even able to continue my side hustle. I was already making big plans for what this new income would mean for Marcus and I moving forward until I realized that I maybe bit off more then I could chew. I went from having tons of free time because I was self-employed and worked from home to working 14hr days multiple days in a row.

Time for myself no longer existed.

I became resentful. I began to complain and would find myself irritated without cause.

I was ungrateful.

When we pray for things we often time have these erroneous expectations that our prayers will be answered Burger King style. “Our Way, Right Away.” What we don’t take into account are all the supplemental things that go along with our prayers being answered.  For instance, I prayed for jobs, got the jobs and then was in my feelings about how much my part-time job was working me when I was the one who asked God to provide me with this very thing!  I realized that what I wanted was the blessing, but I didn’t want the work that came along with it.

Realizing this was a humbling experience because I knew that as easily as God gave me these jobs, he could take them away, and if this happened all my plans would be derailed.

I share this story because I know there are many people out there who can relate to what I was going through. How many of you have actually prayed for something but then weren’t ready for everything that came along with that ask? You may be asking God for a way out of debt or help with your finances, and when the answer is delivered, you don’t accept it for what it is because it gets in the way of your ideal plans.

I believe that the supplemental duties that come along with our prayers are there to challenge us. They are there to separate the adults from the children. How easy it is to complain and wallow in our own self-pity. When we truly want what we’ve asked for we must be willing to face any test because as true believers we know on the other side of that opposition is our reward. You’ve got to go through something in order to grow into something!

This small period of uncomfortableness that I’m going through is making way for a way for bigger and better things. It is temporary. It’s a means to an end which is something we all must remember. By resting in that, and also asking my manager at the part-time to switch my schedule around so I work the same number of days but in a less taxing way, I’m remaining firm to goals of fully funding my ROTH IRA and paying for this professional development trip.

Trust in God with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5-6