This morning I wrote to a sister in the Lord whose husband is currently laid-off. Unemployment is something my family knows a thing or two about. We were without employment for over two years during the dot.com crash that began around 2000.

I wrote to her about Father's hold on His children. (I encourage you to refresh your mind on His hold here.) We have the knowledge that NOTHING catches Him off guard. I used to tell myself during our unemployment season, "This is a season, not a lifestyle!" over and over again. I knew the Lord had brought the trial for shaping. Both Brian and I -- and even our children -- came through transformed. It was well-purposed!

Some of Father's children are in the throws of such molding --- and it is brutally uncomfortable to our flesh! Some of Father's children are fighting thoughts of "what if I am next?"

I can tell you that if you are "next" --- it will be for your good. As difficult as it is to hear, it is the truth. You see, once we bow the knee to Him -- we are off limits to the enemy unless Father approves a trial for our shaping and transformation. That is His promise of FATHERHOOD over our lives. We are no longer orphans --fending for ourselves -- but we are under HIS covering, protection, and provision. It is a wonderful place to rest once the flesh has been subdued through the trial. Unemployment has a way of driving home the core of complete reliance on Him like nothing else! And once such a "learning" takes place, it is DEEPLY rooted in the core of one's being.

I recall one morning -- early on in our unemployment, the Lord spoke, "Isn't it interesting that you will 'trust' Me with your eternity, but you struggle to believe I will take care of you in the 'now'." Ouch! Yes, that hurt when He said it. But it was corrective truth! The irony is that many of His children are in exactly this place. His desire is to bring the reality of our 'trust' to the present such that it is no longer ethereal --- but walked out in the physical -- right here, right now.

My prayer for you this day is that if you are fighting worry or concern over such matters of provision due to unemployment or fighting the raging battle in the mind of "what ifs", bracing to be next.... that you take time to command the flesh to be quiet as you meditate on the verse posted below that the Father dropped into my spirit this morning.

I do believe this must be on His heart for His children today! I have addressed unemployment this morning, but certainly He is far reaching and no trial is without purpose or out of His reach! He does not want us succumbing to the flesh's fears -- but rising above -- knowing HE is more than able to provide for His children and fulfill His purposes in our lives!

Loving you and praying the FULL understanding of His Fatherhood upon you TODAY!
Deborah

I am first and foremost a daughter of the Most High. He has blessed me with three maturing children, ages 12 years old through 7 years old, and a Christian husband who is my best friend. I spend my days home schooling my children, tending the 'home front', exploring God's Word, and lifting up my fellow sisters in Christ. I have a tremendous appetite for the Lord's Word and a desire to know Him to deep depths. As for my fellow sisters in the Lord, I have a passion to see them walking out their destinies in Christ. In all things, Give Him Praise!

You can visit Deborah at www.joyinthemorning.com.