We are told in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 that there is a time for everything!
1 There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.
With the time for all of the mentioned changes, there is also a time to change jobs, and or poisitions in the company / organization you are employed by. There are several people I follow on twitter that are seeking employment and I am faced with a task / assignment change with in the sheriff’s office.
Yesterday I had to attend a budget meeting to discuss the grant source funding for a squad that I supervise. I had heard rumors that my $1.5 million budget was going to be cut somewhere in the neighborhood of $150,000 to $600,000. I spent some time going over my request and identified where I could scale back. At the start of the meeting I was informed by the grant funding source that my squad would no longer be funded. A shock! I was taken back by the announcement as was the finance department supervisor that was with me at this meeting. Neither of us had any indication of this.
Since my squad is 100% grant funded, the members of the squad to include me could be laid off.
After the meeting while driving back to Florence HQ I was talking with her about making sure that the four deputies assigned my my squad had positions to go to so they didn’t have to worry. Our finance supervisor was suprised that I was not focusing on where I was going to find a position, and that I was more concerned about taking care of my squadmembers.
I told her that I was not worried because I have weathered this type of challange when I was assigned to Contract Law Enforcement and the contract to provide law enforcement services to the City of Maricopa were cancelled. I also told her that God had a plan for me and I was sure that he would provide for me.
How can I be so sure? I can be sure due to the fact that I am a joint heir with Jesus. God’s Word tells us that we are heirs to the throne. In Galatians 4:7 we read that ”Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” I know that Christ will not give me a burden so great that I can not bear it.
Yesterday afternoon I was talking with my supervisor, and he informed me that he was already working on a plan to absorb the deputies in to the traffic unit and patrol positions. Even though this did not include me (a sergeants position) I was not worried. God will provide! Then last night as I was again talking to my Lt. he informed me that the sergeant in charge of the Civil Unit had filed his retirement paper work, and that he was willing to freeze the position for up to 180 days after this persons retirement. This would open the position around the end of September, just about the time the the grant funding for my current assignment ends. Like I said God will take care of me and provide!
Knowing that God has a plan for each of us, occasionally we need to change. Again this is spelled out fairly clear in the begining of Ecclesiastes chapter 3. I beleive that God has a plan for me and included in that plan is this change. I just have to be willing to listen to God and follow his will.
For those that are facing carrer changes and seeking employment, dont worry, God will care for you. Place your faith in Him and remember that as we serve Christ we also Serve others, and that as believers in the Risen Savior as we serve others we serve Christ.
Roy
