Experience

It was an amazing time in our lives, and it was one of the most difficult.  My husband and I were just married.  He had completed four years of college, and was working full-time at a local warehouse.  I was also working as a secretary and excited to begin our new life together.  But the dreary and frustrating time lay before us, as he began the task of interviewing for a job/career that would start mapping our future together.  I would search his eyes every time he walked in the door after yet another interview, praying I would hear a “I got the job” response, witnessing a big smile on his face.  But time seemed to drag on without hearing those sweet words. 

Unfortunately, the words sounded more like, “They said I needed more experience,” or “They hired someone with more qualifications.”  As I said, it was an amazing but difficult time as newlyweds.  He had worked so hard to receive his degree, but now everyone wanted more.  College wasn’t enough to land a job in his profession.

How refreshing is it to know following Jesus doesn’t require any experience.  You don’t need a degree, and you don’t even need to understand why your heart is calling you to apply for this position.  It’s not necessary to create a professional resume, listing past experience, knowledge (or lack of) of Christian history, the ability to name all the disciples, or being able to recite passages from the Bible.  Jesus’ help wanted ad would only say, “No experience necessary.”  Boy, tell me that doesn’t take the pressure off.  Jesus will hire you and me just as we are and we’ll get “on the job” experience. 

If you’re wondering the rest of the story, I finally saw that smile on his face when my newlywed husband proclaimed those words, “I’m hired” soon thereafter, without requiring any experience.  And we  lived happily ever after!

So I pray that you give thanks today for Jesus welcoming us with open arms, no matter our circumstances, no matter our sins.  We need only to feel that gentle tug on our hearts that says, “yes” to accepting the most important job in our lives.

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things and the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:9