Jacob scrolled through the job listings yet again. Nothing new stood out. He’d sent dozens of applications, but no replies. He ran his hands through his hair. He’d been out of work for nearly two months. Anastasia was supportive, but it was clear the stress was getting to her, too. He glanced up as she entered the room. She moved behind him and massaged his shoulders.

“Any leads?”

Jacob frowned. “No. Nothing good lately.”

“But you have that career fair next Saturday, right?”

Jacob turned and pulled Anastasia into his lap. “Yes. There will be dozens of companies from the area. That will absolutely be my best chance of finding something local.”

Anastasia leaned against him. “I really don’t want to move.”

Jacob squeezed her tight. “That’s the last resort. I don’t want to move either, and I hate the idea of pulling the kids away from their friends. I haven’t applied anywhere outside of commuting distance.”

“Let’s not worry about it tonight. Why don’t we make some popcorn and put on a movie the whole family will enjoy?”

Jacob pulled back. “I should keep looking.”

“No new jobs will get posted on a Saturday night. You can take off tonight and tomorrow and start looking again on Monday. Or better yet, spend time with us and we’ll trust God to give you a job at the career fair.” She eased off of his lap and held out her hands. “Come on. Let’s get the kids and pick out a movie.”

The next morning after church, Jacob and Anastasia waited in separate lines to pick up the kids from their Sunday school classrooms. Ken Thompson, one of Jacob’s oldest friends, approached and clapped him on the back. “How’s the job search coming?”

Jacob winced. He hated feeling inferior, and until he had a job offer in hand, he was bound to keep feeling that way. “Still looking.”

Ken studied Jacob’s face. “God has a plan for you. Sometimes he wants you to learn patience. I have something to take your mind off your troubles.”

Anything would be better than worrying about the job search. “What’s that?”

Ken handed Jacob a flyer. “The men’s retreat. I went last year and it changed my life.”

Jacob took the flyer without looking at it. “I remember you talking about it. It was over in Calkin County, right?”

“Yeah. Guys come from all over, not just our church. That’s where I met my accountability partner who helped me lose weight.”

Jacob gave Ken a once-over. “Well, it seems to be working. You look great.”

Ken laughed. “Thanks. It’s been a lot of hard work, but having someone pray with me and make sure I’m sticking with the diet and exercise has really helped.” He pointed to the paper. “You don’t need to lose weight, but the speakers and the fellowship are phenomenal.”

The line moved forward. “Thanks, Ken. I’ll pray about it.”

On the drive home, Anastasia read the flyer. “What’s this?”

“Something Ken wanted me to go to. Why?”

“It’s next weekend.”

Jacob sighed. “Well, that’s that. I can’t go. I need to go to the career fair.”

That night, Jacob couldn’t sleep. He spent the night in prayer.

Anastasia greeted him at the breakfast table. “Are you OK?”

Jacob poured her a cup of coffee. “I am. I’m not sure what God is doing, but He clearly wants me to go to the men’s retreat. I fought with Him all night.”

Anastasia smiled at Jacob. “Just like your namesake.”

Jacob cocked his head at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Jacob in the Bible. He wrestled with God all night until God promised to bless him.”

Jacob grinned. “Well, here’s hoping He’ll bless me too. All I know is for some reason, He wants me to go to that retreat.”

“But you were so sure about the career fair. What about getting a new job?”

“Sometimes God asks us to do things that don’t make sense. After fishing all night and catching nothing, Jesus told Peter to drop his net on the other side of the boat. And when they ran out of wine at the wedding, Jesus told the people to fill the jugs with water. There are lots of examples in the Bible of things not making sense to people at the time they were asked to do them.”

Anastasia took Jacob’s hand. “I’m glad you have such strong faith.”

“I’ve been really struggling with being out of work, but I have to trust God. He’s all we’ve got. And I know what He’s asking of me. I’m not sure what He has planned, but I have to be obedient.”

Friday afternoon, Jacob made his way to the retreat. He spent the evening listening to godly speakers and singing worship music. With each moment he spent with the other men, he grew closer to God. Surely this was the reason God wanted him to be here. Still, his heart was heavy with the need to find a new job. He sent up one more prayer to God to provide.

By Sunday morning at breakfast, Jacob was finally able to catch up with Ken.

“So, what did you think of the retreat?” Ken asked.

“Brother, you wouldn’t believe it.”

“Are you kidding me? God has stopped surprising me. What did He do for you this weekend?”

Jacob spread some butter on his toast. “I was blessed by the teaching, the worship, and the fellowship. But God topped it off with something I never expected.”

Ken raised his eyebrows. “Oh?”

“My roommate for the weekend was Dan Stevens. He happens to be the head of Lanzett Technology, and they are currently looking for a new manager in their product development department. The job description sounds like it was written for me.”

 Isaiah 55:8-9

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

God, sometimes what you ask us to do doesn’t make sense in our limited perspective. But You tell us to trust You. Please help us to step out in faith and follow Your lead. You’re able to do more than we can even imagine. Thank you so much for the blessings You give to us, even when we don’t understand Your plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.