The joy of the Lord is my strength

A couple of days ago, when I returned back to work from vacation, I learned that I was being moved back to days. The last four months I have been working the night shift and as crazy as it sounds, i actually liked it. I had a routine and I felt a bit more normal than I did on days, if feeling normal on nights is normal... But I worked 4 days and had 3 days off in a row, and i had a set schedule where I worked the same days and had the same days off. I didn't have any problems staying awake or falling asleep so it work for me. When I learned that I was going to days, I wanted to cry. I wanted the person telling me to be joking. Going back to days was the last thing i wanted to do for a while. Days is just so....crazy and full of problems that weigh heavily on me, along with having to deal with all those lovely customers who have no respect for the individual and come into my store and steal from us and then trash the store in front of us. Plus, no more set schedule, where now I'm back to the alternate schedule where you have split days off where you wake up wondering if you should be at work already, or if still have time to sleep or if you are off because your schedule is different everyday.


At first i was mad. Mad for several different reasons and mad at the person who was moved to overnights in my place. I was going off. All these thoughts were going through my mind. Now is the time to quit. I hate this place and this town. Why is God putting me through all this? I just wanted to run far away. I didn't know how long my strength would last before I gave up.


I was dreading going to work today. I just didn't want to go through it all again. But after I was there a couple of hours, my spirit changed. Some things happened and I can't explain it but I had the realization that God really loves me. He favors me and He is continuing to take care of his daughter as promised. I just got a sense of relief that everything is going to be ok. That joy and peace that I felt from the acceptance and awareness of His love gave me the strength I needed to keep fighting and the strength to love and be kind to others. I don't know why God brought me to this city or why he has me work where I work and I probably will never understand it. But I do know that no matter what happens, everything is going to be ok and my loving Abba Father will be right next to me holding my hand along the way.



Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing this, that the testing of your faith develops patience, and patience must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:2-4


The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. -Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. -Psalm 18:2