I believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And I believe He is the same God who provides everything I need.
So as I was thinking about how to make ends meet, I dwelt in the knowledge that it is the Lord who directs our steps (Psalm 32:8) and that His plan is to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). In my prayers, I sought the Lord that He may open my eyes to see opportunities as I look for them, and that He may grant me favor as I apply for freelancing jobs.
One night (because jobs are often posted at night in my timezone), as I was browsing through Upwork, I found a job where I could really offer my services. It specifically indicated that it needs to hire three freelancers. But with apprehension because of how my applications from similar job posts were rejected earlier, I thought of just letting it sit in my saved jobs for later reference.
The thing about this job post, making it different from regular job posts, is that it requires applicants to submit a recorded video answering some questions about why they find the job interesting. That requirement becomes a filter, sifting through those who really really want to get hired from those who are just there taking their chances.
Usually, an Upwork job post receives around 20-50 applications within an hour. So, from time to time, I check the saved jobs tab to see how my saved job is doing so far. Then a day passed. And another. Still, the number of applications never exceeded 10, with one already being interviewed.
Two thoughts were running in my head at that time:
- There is a high chance I would get hired (knowing my competence level and the level of competition at a maximum of 10 applicants) if I apply.
- I may be too late to apply two days after because Upwork job posts usually get hires within the day.
But given that the job is looking to hire three freelancers, my capabilities of doing the job, and there is only one person who got to the interviewing stage, I sent my application video. I held on to God’s promise that when He blesses, He adds no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22). So if I get this job, then it becomes a blessing, not a burden.
Did applying for the job require my time and effort? Absolutely!
It’s true that as we obey the Lord and allow Him to lead our steps, He blesses the work of our hands (Deuteronomy 28:12). And so when I immediately received an invitation for a job interview, within 30 minutes after I submitted my job application, I already felt confident that the Lord has given me this job. What’s even more impressive is to be interviewed after an hour and get a job offer right after.
With joy, I know that the Lord had answered my prayer of having another source of income, even before I received the job offer. Why? Because the process was so smooth, you’d feel a divine intervention was taking place.
What I am reminded of from this encounter is this:
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8 NASB1995
jessa 