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Quitting My Job
By Theresa Mendoza
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| Theresa Mendoza |
My mother had always taught my sister and I about Jesus, but she never forced it on us. She just wanted to make sure that we knew He was there and someone to go to.
My father died when I was nine years old. He was mentally ill and after battling with the disease, the illness finally convinced him to end his life. I was very close to my father and was crushed and lost after he died. He was a good man that taught me to never not do anything because I was a girl and that I should always aim high and do good things with my life. It was an encouragement that got lost after he died.
At fourteen, I started drinking alcohol and soon after, at the age of sixteen, drugs set in. I went out all hours of the night bringing nothing but worry to my mother. Later she would confess to me that if my bad behavior kept on, she and my sister would have put me in the hospital.
When I turned eighteen and started college, I decided that I couldn’t make my mother worry more. So I decided to join a Bible study group at the college hoping she would be proud of me and think things were ok. It was good at first and I quickly realized that I really do need God in my life. Unfortunately, the group I was studying with made me feel horrible about some of the things I have done and was doing. I was constantly being compared to others who were moving along faster with their faith than I was. Eventually, I just stopped going.
At that time, a lady I was working with, who was a Seventh-day Adventist, would always invite me to her church. After many “no’s”, I finally said ok and she told me to meet her Saturday morning. At first I thought that was a strange day to go to church, but I went any way. She brought me to a youth group and I liked how friendly everyone was. They invited me to a Friday night Bible study and I went. I really enjoyed and I really liked the people. After a few weeks, I saw that this may be a good church to go to. The people never made me feel bad and welcomed me always. The youth leader came to my home and gave me Bible studies about heaven, death, etc. and it made sense to me. Even though I had found some truth, I was still living my party life and soon the battle was on.
I did stop using alcohol and drugs when I turned twenty two. I got married and was living a clean and sober life. But my spiritual sparatic behavior was still looming. I would go to church and then not go, pray then not pray, and I was constantly looking at everyone else and how they were acting and the things they were doing. It was very tiring and I felt that there was no way I could be like them and there was no way for me to go to Heaven because I was not like them. This went on for years.
Although I never completely followed Christ, I still held on to the Sabbath belief and would not work. My husband and I had moved to California from Florida and I eventually got a job at LensCrafters making glasses. I was very fortunate that they understood I could not work on Saturdays. But I was living a lie because I was not attending church and I was just living life.
After two years of working there, management changed and things were really bad. A complicated story in itself, I was getting very ill from all the stress. I decided to put in for a transfer to another store and things seem like they were going to work out until they dropped the bombshell that I had to work at least one Saturday a month. I knew that was wrong so I had turned them down. I went back to my old store with my tail between my legs asking for hours to work again. They were willing to give me work, but it appeared to be at a price. I knew that it was going to get worse, I was going to get sicker, and the stress was not going to improve. So I decided to give my notice.
I decided to quit at a bad time. My husband’s business was not doing well and it was not a good time to be without a steady paycheck. But something told me it was going to be okay. Because of the whole “work mess” (as I call it), it actually brought me to God. I realized how important He was in my life and there was nothing that could override Him. I started to pray and read and go back to church.
I finally understood that it was never about what everyone else was doing or saying, but it was about God and me. My focus needed to be on Him. After twelve years of weaving in out of my walk with Christ, I stood still and allowed Him in to do His work.
I want nothing more to do with the cares of this world, but I want to deal in the love of God. In time I know His Will for me shall be revealed. I can’t imagine going back to that lost, lonely, fearful person I once us. I don’t ever want to see doubt and sin take over again. Jesus is with me and He has redeemed me and He is helping me to move forward.
In case you were wondering about my job situation. News got out that I gave my notice and the store that said I had to work one Saturday a month called me and felt it was a shame that the company was losing a good employee. They said they wanted me to come to their store and I did not have to work on Saturdays due to a change in my working status. I would go from part time to casual part time. My stress is next to nil, the people are wonderful and I love to share with people that because I followed God’s ways He blessed me…more then I could ever imagine.
I am truly grateful that a difficult work experience brought me closer to God. He performed a miracle that was beyond my imagination and understanding and when I feel there is no hope, I think about what He did for me and I know that He will work more miracles in my life.
I hope my story gave you some inspiration about hope, faith, and the love God has for us. And I hope you see that it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to get to God. Just get there and allow Him to do His work in you.
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