Just Breathe

Yesterday, Chris took a big step that means an even bigger change for our family. He resigned from his job.

This has really been a long time coming, but somehow it still feels completely unexpected. When he was promoted to supervisor of his own team back in the summer of 2018, we knew he'd be stretched and uncomfortable in many ways. However, we also recognize that growth doesn't come from being comfortable, and he felt ready to take on the challenge. Things were tough, though. He spent months and months cleaning up inherited messes, short-staffed the entire time. He tried to hire and fill positions, but he was severely discouraged with a couple bad hires in a row. 

Then, 2020 and all the pandemic craziness hit. Hiring was completely frozen. He and his entire staff were suddenly sent home to work (with very few resources and practically no procedures set in place), and spent 9 weeks working exclusively from home and an additional four months only being in the office part time. It was during this time - when he was trying to manage people remotely who were unprepared to be working remotely - that he came to me and said he wanted to resign and look for a different opportunity. We discussed it, and I felt it was very unfair to resign during a time that wasn't representative of what the job really should be. I asked him to set a reminder in his phone for three months from that day so that we could revisit the conversation. 

For nearly 18 months now, we have been revisiting the conversation every three months about him finding a new job. He has felt unsupported and unheard. He has been short-staffed this entire time, with unfulfilled promises of being able to hire and get some help. He had reached the end of his rope.

I'm cautious by nature and tend to move too slow on big life changes. I pretty much have to have the rug pulled out from under me to get on board with things, and that is kind of where we are right now. He does not have another job lined up. This feels really scary and really stressful, yet simultaneously neither of those things. There is such a weight lifted and the relief is obvious. We are sad, yet not sad. There is most certainly a peace in our home that can only be from the Lord.

The future is uncertain right now, but it is a much needed reminder of where true security lies. It's not in jobs or income or man, but in God. We are praying and trusting, and dare I say even a little excited about where this situation will lead.