Lent 28 ~ He is Directing Our Steps

God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.   ~  Psalm 46: 2 – 3; 5 – 6

          Today, in the month of St Joseph’s March, I received a bit of unexpected news deep into the afternoon. My eldest was offered an internship at a company and it was a surprise to him as well as to me.

          Quite some time back, he had been scouring the listings for suitable companies to train at. Eager to help, I had passed some name of firms to him. He received them good-naturedly, but he wasn’t too keen on them for various reasons. Then, towards the end of last year, a piece of news came up in my newsfeed. I was about to pass over it when I realised that it was about a pretty established company and its forthcoming project. Since its work pertained to my son, I did some reading up on the company but took it no further. A few weeks later, the same company made the news again for some other area of work.

I felt it was a sign.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever come across articles pertaining to a specific company so close together, but for sure, I’ve never had news like that “move in my heart”. I sent the news link to my son, cracked a joke or two, and left it at that. Months later, with no replies to his other applications, yesterday, he took the plunge and applied to the company in the news. In less than 24 hours, they replied and he had secured his internship spot.

          Pondering everything that has led to today’s news, I recalled that a few months ago, when my son was at a low point as he struggled with heavy assignments and training concerns, I had sent him a gentle word of God which I had hoped would help him in some way. At that time, it had felt like small thing against the mountain my boy was facing.

Today, the poignancy of the verse from Proverbs 3:6, and the truth it foretold smote my heart. We can never be sure how this or anything else in life will work out. But looking at the way this opportunity has come about, I know the Lord is leading my child somewhere, just as He leads us all on each of our own unknown journeys. There will be a lot to learn, things will not be all sunshine or roses, but today, I’m in awe of a God Who is as ever, in charge.

          There are so many of us, stumbling on our journeys, sometimes, hopeful, often not. Although some well-meaning people might rebuke our lack of faith when hopes are long in coming true, such times are only too true for many, and to deny this is the greater wrong, I believe. How long I’ve prayed for our jobs, training placements and future careers. I’ve never asked for fame or fancy careers but always to be able to do good work with peace of heart. Good news has come over the years but to be honest, sometimes, I’ve felt they just weren’t enough for what we were suffering.

          Today is different, though. Although today’s news pertains to the smaller prayer of all I’ve prayed for, it is the one that pierces my heart.

          For today, the Almighty has laid His hand against my heart and shown me He is indeed directing our steps.