30 Day of Praise Day 25 Answer to Prayer

As most of our close friends know, Tim's work schedule has always been something of a challenge. Being in law enforcement, it kind of comes with the territory. We've been married almost 6 years, and in that time he has been on every shift from graveyard to swing shift to day shift. We've always been like ships passing in the night with different schedules. God is gracious, though, and He's not only blessed us with so much along the way but has given us the strength to endure being apart.

Recently, an opportunity came up at his work for him to interview for a special assignment as a transport deputy working M-F 7am to 3pm with weekends and holidays off for FOUR years (right now his shifts change every 6 months). Now, Tim HATES weekends because of how crowded everything is (12 years of shift work and being able to do things during the week with no crowds has spoiled him :)) but one of the reasons he put in for this job was so that we could be together more and finally have the same schedule for the first time in our marriage. Plus, he's been wanting to be a transport deputy for quite awhile, so the schedule is just an added benefit.

So, we prayed about it and sought the Lord and Tim felt strongly led to put in for it. He and I felt such a peace about it in the weeks leading up to it, most of that having to do with the fact that even though we both wanted it more than anything, we gave it up to God and asked Him that His will be done (there is such freedom in that by the way...just letting go). The week of the interview came and with it some major attacks from the enemy. It seemed like each day we got closer to the interview day, the more we were fighting and mistreating each other (which is rare), little irritations would happen (like Tim driving over a crescent wrench and getting a flat tire, preventing us from going to Home Group that night to ask for prayer), I had to go to the ER for a crazy dizzy spell...Satan was in full attack mode. How did we deal with it? Well, in the middle of a fight we stopped ourselves and realized what was happening. We always hear Pastor Brett talking about humbling yourself enough in a fight to grab your spouse's hand and pray. It's so easy to sit in church and nod your head in agreement; it's another thing entirely to actually put it into practice. So we both swallowed our pride and the hurtful words that were itching to be said, and prayed together, apologized to each other and made up. And the darkness truly FLED. The next day he interviewed and after a day of deliberation we found out that...HE GOT IT!!! I don't even know what to do I'm so excited! I will have my husband home every single night. We will be able to wake up together on a Saturday and Sunday and have a "normal" life for four years. We'll be able to go camping with our friends or out to dinner or get more involved with church the way we've been wanting to. I cannot wait to begin this new little chapter in our lives!

I am so incredibly grateful to my Lord Jesus. I am always humbly amazed that even when we act like idiots and spoiled children, he still continues to bless us. Who He is alone commands praise, but these blessings and answers to prayer that come along in our lives remind me just how grateful I am to serve such a mighty, loving, gracious and benevolent God.