Lately...

**WARNING: LONG POST AHEAD (but that's not really a surprise...)**

Do you ever feel like there's just so much going on, you unwind at the end of the day but you have absolutely no idea what you did all day? As if a tornado hit and you didn't even know...

Because this is Thor-tally relevant.

To be honest that's how my days have been passing the past few weeks. Work has picked up, and staying overtime doesn't begin to explain the tornado that hits work everyday. But as much as I am physically burnt out, God reminds me that I have much to be thankful for.

When I was looking for a job after graduating from UCI, there were a few things I prayed for in a prospective workplace. Here are a few of them:

1. A workplace where I can evangelize, where I would be challenged to be a faithful witness at all times. 
2. A place where I may be used to glorify God.
3. A place where I will be filled with joy and gratitude each day.

Long story short, God answers prayers. But it took me a few months to realize just how He had answered them... When the days are long and I am so exhausted, God lifts my spirits by reminding me of his goodness and love for me... 

I work at Elite Educational Institute as its office manager. And I must admit, I am quite spoiled. First, to have a job at all. Second, to have this specific job. And third, to be challenged as a follower of Christ everyday. Though the work hours are not ideal, it is such an insignificant factor compared to the many other things I have been blessed with.

So let me share some of the ways God has spoiled me through this job.

• Prayer: In times of frustration, impatience, and misunderstanding, my heart is so quick to judge and grow bitter at those around me. But God reminds me of his patience and loving character through his Word, and reroutes my thoughts and leads me to prayer. Oh to recognize and understand the desire to pray-- what did I ever do to deserve that? Nothing, really. God is just awesome and such an awesome God loves me. ME! 
• Perspective: I attended Elite as a high school student, and I definitely did not appreciate it as much as I should have. Now that I see it both from the students' perspective and the parents' effort to help students reach their potential, it definitely affects the way I interact and encourage those who walk into our academy.
• Patience: Parents are probably more difficult to deal with than the students. It makes sense; they want the best for their child, and they're not going to stop until they find it. Speaking with parents have definitely been a great test of my patience, and though painful at times, I realize, "Hey, if this is difficult, imagine how much more difficult I must be to deal with. Man, God must love me a lot."
• People: I am blessed. I have the privilege of working with some of the most hard-working, patient, and funny people. On top of that, these people are church-goers and followers of Christ. It is just such a pleasure to go into work each day! Though at first I was as to how I would evangelize at work, I realized that God is just challenging me to be a good and faithful witness at ALL times. 
• Position: I think that a second name for a "manager" should be a "liaison." Oftentimes I feel like the monkey in the middle, going back and forth between the staff and my directors. I've always believed that communication is key, but this-- this is a whole new level. I am humbled in all directions, whether I lead or obey. This is wonderful, since pride seems to be a problem of mine. I love it!!
• Place: I work 6 minutes walking distance from my apartment. Need I say more?
• Provision: I didn't really pray for a job that would pay a lot. Instead of being greedy for the pay, I wanted a place that would give me more valuable rewards: experience and growth. God always responds beyond my prayers. He not only provided me with a job that inundates me with opportunities to learn and gain experience, but he also gave me a job that is sufficient enough to sustain myself and then some. 
• Physical Strength: This is actually ironical. I have been physically drained and exhausted each day after work. Especially with consecutive overtime shifts, sometimes I wonder how I got through each day. However, it is definitely by God's grace that though I feel physically exhausted, I am still more than well enough to go to work. To delight in the ways He provide for me. 
• Purpose: Through all of my responsibilities at work, I have a clearer view of my purpose in life. It is not to be the best manager, the best coworker, the best mentor, the best teacher, but to be the best Christian I can be, anywhere I am placed. That is my purpose, and I am spoiled to be held at such a high expectation. I am flattered; I am humbled. 

All of the above and many other unmentioned factors only shows just how much God is present, how much he hears my prayers, and how much he loves me. I am being used by God, and am consequently being molded into the woman of God he had planned for me to be. If that doesn't make me spoiled (as if I'm not already), I don't know what does. 

So even though I come home frazzled and half-crazy, my heart is glad because I know God is using me. My heart is full because I know that He is answering my prayers and more each and everyday. I am joyous despite nonexistent weekends and long, lonely, late hours because I know that through this all, God is glorified. My purpose is to glorify God, and he has spoiled me with a chance to do so at my work. 

They say that the eye of the tornado is actually very calm. Ironic, right? But maybe in the great tornado of work, school, life... all we need to do is go to the core of it all and meditate. Be thankful, rejoice, and rest in Him. 

I'll end with one of my favorite passages:

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

{Ecclesiastes 5:18 - 21 ESV} 

May you and I continue to have joy-FULL days, lifting praise to God and honoring Him in all that we do.

Soli Deo Gloria.