Surrender by K. Denise Holmberg

Thirty-five years ago, air traffic controllers walked off the job and halted air traffic in the United States. President Ronald Reagan called the striking of federal employees illegal and fired eleven thousand controllers.

The ripple effect almost crippled the industry. Thousands more lost their jobs with the airlines.

I happened to be one of them.

I had been a flight attendant for American Airlines for a year when this happened. Within weeks, I was among the countless numbers of flight attendants, pilots, caterers, baggage handlers, reservationists, gate agents, etc. who were furloughed.

I lived in Chicago IL, and had several friends that worked at the Board of Trade.

So, I got my license

to trade futures and went to work.

For a while, everything was rosy.

Until I started praying for more money.

Just enough to help offset the tremendous cost of living downtown Chicago.

I wasn’t being greedy or asking to be rich.

I just needed a little more.

So what happened?

The company I worked for announced that they had been sold and the Chicago office was closing.

I was going to be unemployed in two weeks.

BUT … but … I had prayed!!!

After the announcement I went to my spiritual mentor, a wise woman named Diane, to complain.

What did she say?

“Let’s pray.”

With narrowed eyes and a deep furrowed scowl, I reluctantly followed her lead.

I bowed my head, but not my heart.

I was in trouble. How would I pay my rent? Buy food? Have fun?

She prayed audibly, but then there was silence.

I looked up--ready to give up.

But her lips were moving and her head was still down.

I bowed my head again.

I looked up a little later. I was ready to get outta there.

But she was still praying.

Down went my head again.

Then I did something that surprised me. I thanked God for my situation.

I told him I knew I was in his hands. And that I believed he had a plan for my life, for good and not for evil.

I told him I trusted him. And I meant it.

I surrendered all.

My heart changed from that moment on.

I realized that’s what Diane prayed for. A change in my heart, not my circumstances. And she kept me on my knees until it happened (I said she was a wise woman!).

I left Diane’s apartment in peace.

The next week I found a new job at a huge bump in salary. Plus my old company paid a very generous severance.

I was livin’ large! Thank you, Lord!

Over the years I’ve found that sometimes he answers prayers like that … fast.

But more often, I’ve found it takes time for God to reveal his plan for my life and answer my prayers.

But surrendering all … in my heart … is what he was looking for from me that day and every day.

It’s what he’s looking for from all of us.

Have you ever surrendered all? Tell me about it!

Blessings!

Denise

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11