The end of August marked 10 full years since I had a major course correction in my life. Looking back now, it seems like an eternity ago. But in that moment, it was the most terrifying thing I had endured up until that point in my life. That moment was when I was laid off from a job I really enjoyed because the company was closing my location.

The whirlwind of emotions I experienced at that time were absolutely overwhelming. The most prevalent, of course, being fear. Fear of my immediate future, fear of the unknown, fear of failure. What was I going to do? Where would I work? What were my husband and my finances going to look like? We had only been married for 2 years at that time, and for a young 20 something who thought she had her life figured out, the thoughts of starting over can be a scary thing.

God is really amazing in the ways that he prepared us for this transition. I found out several months earlier that this was going to happen. At that time, I was even given the opportunity to stay with the company, if I was willing to move. However, we really did not want to move, so I took the option of being laid off. Because of the amount time we had between when I was informed it was going to happen, and when it actually happened, we were able to get some preparations made, mainly with our finances. We were able to make it so that we could live off of 1 paycheck (my husband’s teacher/coach wages) and my severance pay for a short while while I searched for another job.

Although I did have a little bit of notice, nothing could fully prepare me for the flood of emotions I would experience during that time. A sense of loss and, at times, depression, overtook me. The job I lost was one I planned on staying in for the long haul. I truly had to mourn the death of a dream. I also had to dig in deep to find a way to trust God through the process. It wasn’t easy, but that time frame in my life has forever marked me and has made me the person I am today.

Things are often a little more clear when you look back than when you are looking forward. So, what advice could I possibly share 10 years later? Well, it’s advice I still have to remind myself of over and over again; Trust God through the process. It’s easy to trust, in theory, but when you are in the midst of uncertainty, it’s a bit tougher. Even now, I struggle with that. I struggle with change when I’m comfortable, and struggle with waiting for a change when it is something I desire. It can be a double edged sword. One thing that I always hold onto is that God has a plan, whether or not we always see it. And it is a good plan.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6