Lately, my husband has begun feeling like he is being called into ministry. He has been doing part time ministry in prison discipleship, working with inmates to know Jesus better. When he comes home, he is glowing. He was made for this. He loves sharing Jesus with these men, and seeing their faith grow in difficult circumstances.
My previous job was going to be my forever job. I was a remote sales rep for a large lab, it was (mostly) fun, and I was good at it. I wasn’t looking to leave.
I got an opportunity in a different industry (still remote, so my workplace still looks the same, with my same beagle coworkers), not in a sales role, but with a higher guaranteed salary. I left a boss who trusted me and walked into the unknown.
I was anxious. I was so unsure. Why would I leave a good thing that I knew I excelled at? In fact, when I left I was ranked number one in the country. And why, at a time, when my husband feels a tugging of change on his own life?
We prayed over this. We prayed that if this path was not for me that there’d be roadblocks. We prayed for wisdom in making decisions. But the job came with zero roadblocks, and with perfect provision. I was in turmoil over accepting the new role, and about giving notice to my old job. But once I committed I felt peace (fun fact, I dread commitment, a mortgage feels like a straight jacket to me).
My husband also feels peace. He says it brings him peace to know I am capable of bringing the financial security into our home that allows him to run his business without worry. And now, as he contemplates a future where he sells his business and pursues a different calling, I can go where he goes, I can feed us. And he can count on me.
My new job does a few things. It provides a higher guaranteed income, no uncertain commission. But more importantly I think, it teaches me that my security is in Jesus, not in my employer, my tenure, my seniority or how clever I think I am.
It is weird because I always sort of believed and hoped that my purpose would be a powerful, center stage role. That I’d be in charge of things. I’m smart, I went to grad school, I’m capable. But what if my purpose is the quiet and supportive wife at home, managing our finances, keeping the homefront secure and the bills quietly paid while my husband does important work for God?
My husband says he thinks it’s beautiful. And he loves that he can believe in me.
Anna Farley 