Safe in His hands

The last blog post I wrote (July 2014), included these exact words toward the end...

"But don't get me wrong, as "great" as my life may seem right now, I daily have to choose Him. I daily have to pray that this joy and happiness will not overtake me and I will forget who I received it from. I pray that in the midst of happiness, I will be weak so that I may always need Jesus!"

I love how God answers every single prayer and every single one of the thoughts we have. These last words in my last post held true up until March of this year 2015, where my life started to feel not so "great". As you know I am able to work in the U.S. thanks to a work permit. I have shared before the blessing of receiving it and how long the wait had been leading up to that day. Well this work permit is not permanent and has to be renewed every two years; 2014 being the first year that they get renewed, as they were issued initially in 2012. 

To give you a little background and in a nutshell, this is not an employment visa, it does not give a person the right to travel outside the U.S. and it is not a path to permanent residency "green card" or citizenship. This employment authorization was awarded through a program called "Deferred Action". This program (because it is not a law) is not really a program, but an executive order given by the president in 2012. Under this executive order, given that you  met all the requirements, you would have action deferred in your case, meaning immigration would not come after you (be deported) and you could be given an employment authorization card, to be able to legally work in the U.S. The requirements include:

1.     Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;

2.    Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;

3.    Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;  

4.    Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;

5.    Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;

6.    Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and

7.    Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor,or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

So there you have it, easy peasy right? So the renewal time came and one is to submit an application no longer than 150 days before expiring, preferably 120 days before (4 months). My card expired April 14, 2015 and I submitted my renewal petition in December 2014. I went home two weeks for Christmas, came back and had my appointment with immigration. Everything seemed to be going well, I knew it would take about 3 months since that's the usual time frame. Well, March came and I knew I'd receive my permit any time. But the days kept going and all of a sudden it was mid March and my case hadn't even been looked at much less my new card issued. I talked to my boss and HR was aware of my expiration coming up. They were confident that it would come but I was very nervous. I called my lawyer and he said everything would be ok, that I would get it just in time before it expired. 

Then it was April 1st and I was still not at peace, something kept telling me it was not ok. I was only 13 days now from my permit expiring. I tried to go to sleep that night and could not do it. I tossed and turned and tossed and turned and toss and turned. I started to play worship music to help me calm down and then I got a thought that perhaps I should pray, but I was so tired that I was fighting to fall asleep. Then I got a very intense headache that made me sit up instantly. I grabbed my head and stood up to walk to the medicine cabinet and once in the restroom a voice in my thoughts said "Pray". So I closed the medicine cabinet, went back into my room, lid up a candle, with worship music still playing, I kneeled down next to my bed and closed my eyes. I kept thinking about my work permit, I kept thinking what will happen if I don't get it, and at the same time I was thinking, "God I need you". I don't know how long I was kneeling besides my bed that night, I went from song to song not finding the right one, then I would close my eyes, then I would try and talk to God but didn't have words. I then though to myself I needed God's voice, I needed His word. I didn't know what to read so I googled "scripture about God's plan for my life".  

I read: 

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

and 

Romans 8:28

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

I had read all these verses before and I knew God had and has a plan for my life, I believed it, so what was God trying to tell me? 

The I read Ecclesiastes 31:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

 What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;  also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.^[ Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.  I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?  So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

After I finished reading, a voice in my thoughts said "It is going to be a mess, but it is going to be ok". I had never read those verses before, they were new to me, so I read them about three times and then I thought about my work permit and God's voice saying "It is going to be a mess, but it is going to be ok". I prayed some more and even cried and finally I was able to fall asleep. The next morning I was very tired and all I could think of was "It is going to be a mess, but it is going to be ok". 

I went to work that day and OH WHAT A DAY! I made a couple long phone calls to immigration and found out that they were backed up in reviewing the cases. They were backed up two months and were reviewing applications submitted October 2014. My case was still pending for approval and was submitted in December. I had multiple conversations with my boss and boss's boss all the way up to my program director. I called HR and they had no idea what to tell me or how to help me, this was so new to them. I told them I needed to tell them what was going on and they could not understand. Thursday and Friday (2nd and 3rd) went by and I had no answers. Then Friday afternoon a friend in my same situation told me that there was a note at the bottom of the immigration page that read:

"If USCIS is unexpectedly delayed in processing your renewal request, we may provide deferred action and employment authorization for a short period of time until we finish processing your request. We may do this if you filed your request at least 120 days before your current period of deferred action and employment authorization expire."

I immediately called immigration again and asked about this note. They said that I could request this extension in person by making an appointment to the closest office for me. That was in Oklahoma City, The earliest they could take me was Wednesday April 8th. I went back to work on Monday and decided we could hold of anything until my visit on Wednesday. I drove an hour and 30 minutes to OKC that afternoon only to find out they could not give me an extension. They told me they didn't know why the note was there when they were not authorized to give those extensions to people with my case. Again because my case is part of deferred action, the executive order and not an employment visa. I asked to speak to someone higher up and went all the way to the office supervisor. He teared up apologizing to me that there was nothing he could do to help me. I got in my car and cried! I called a very close friend that knows my situation from day one and helped me to calm down. As I was able to calm down and stop crying I started to drive back to Tulsa and prayed. Then I remembered again "It is going to be a mess, but it is going to be ok".

At this time I had submitted multiple prayer request to my local church and texted, called, emailed everyone I could think of that could join me in prayer. I knew that in the mess God was warning me about, I needed Him. I came back into work that Wednesday afternoon and shared what had happened. I set up a meeting with HR for the following day. Upon walking into that meeting the next morning I felt nervous but I was not afraid. I asked God to have His way and be with me. Present at that meeting was a girl I had meet previously during one of the volunteering events for work. I felt less nervous meeting with someone I knew already and also having my boss for support. The meeting was very short but felt so long. From their outside legal counsel they only option they had was to terminate my job if my permit did not come in Tuesday (April 14^th). My heart was torn and I felt and knew that everything was out of my control. Again I remembered, “It is going to be a mess, but it is going to be ok”.

The weekend went by and I submitted another prayer request. The amount of people that reached out to me that Sunday afternoon was overwhelming. People were telling me that they were praying for me and that they had submitted prayer requests to their bible study groups, to their families and to people they knew were prayer warriors. I couldn’t believe how many people were interceding for me, more than half those people, I didn’t even know. I dreaded Tuesday to come and Sunday night I said during my prayer time “God I don’t want it to be Tuesday”.

Well Monday came and I checked my case status online and it still said pending. Then two hours later I received an email from immigration and to my surprise the email read that my case got approved! I was amazed that God had come through! I immediately told my boss and he asked to print that email as he had a meeting with HR in 30 minutes. He was hopeful that this would be enough to keep me working and avoid being terminated the next day. In my heart though I was rejoicing and letting everyone know that God had answered our prayers, I remembered, “It is going to be a mess, but is it going to be ok”. My boss came out from meeting with HR and unfortunately I would still be terminated the next day unless I received the card physically. Their outside legal council had advised them to take that action. My heart sank but I was still hopeful because God was telling me again that it was going to be ok. Tuesday came and I met with HR at 4pm. Before that I had my weekly meeting with my group and my boss announced what had happened. He told my coworkers that as of “today” I would have to leave work and come back until I had my card physically in hand. Half of my coworkers knew and the others didn’t. Those that did know had been praying for me and were rejoicing that my case was approved because they knew it was an answered prayer, but they were still sad that I had to be let go.

My meeting with HR was bitter sweet. I was told all the things I needed to be aware of and was explained all the legalities. To my surprise the two representatives from HR that I met with, I had previously also met from different volunteering events. This was so far a total of 3 people. I could tell that they hated having to do this to me, but assured me that they would do everything they could to re-hire me once I received my card.

Different people began to advise me and had been advising me of what is should be doing. I got offered side jobs so that I could be financially ok, I was told I should get everything in writing, I was told I should ask for a raise once they hired me back and some told me I shouldn’t have even told anyone that my permit was expiring. There was so much noise coming form different directions but time and time again I remembered, “It is going to be a mess, but it is going to be ok”. I couldn’t ask for any of these things or even take any advise when I knew that God kept telling me it would I be ok. I knew I had to trust Him and walk by faith.

I write all this, as I do for every post, to share what God does in my life, as my daily prayer is that my life will serve to glorify Him. As I left work that Tuesday afternoon a lot of things went through my mind and as I prayed that night I understood a lot of things first hand. Those things that you know because you read them in His word, but they come alive when they actually happen to you.

As I walked out of work that Tuesday, my coworkers kept telling me that it was not fair, that how could this happen when I did nothing wrong, that they were praying for me, that they were missing me already. I felt so loved and encouraged but at the same time I felt as if I was encouraging them. I was sad yet I was at peace and I was also joyful, knowing that God was promising me that it would be ok. I had to be escorted out of the building and had to turn in my badge. I stepped out an looked at the building remembering the first day I started that job.

At home while reflecting on all of this, it hit me that it is very true that things of this world are temporary, including my job and my life. One day I had my dream job and all of a sudden I had lost it. Nothing is forever, only life with Jesus. I also thought about those offers for side jobs and how I should get some things in writing. Where would my faith be if I listened to that? Wasn’t I faithful to believe that God would provide and that He was telling me it would be ok? How could I ask for written down words of a reassurance of a rehire, when God was telling me it would happen? 

I also though of being escorted out of the building and how people said it was not “fair”. I couldn’t help but to think of Jesus and what He must have felt when He sacrificed for us on the cross. I am NOT Jesus by any means and my feelings and emotions will never compare to what He did for us. But I had a knot in my throat thinking of the cross and how unjust His death was for us. Thinking of how perfect His life was and how He had to go through such horrible things so that you and I could be with God. I also thought of life with Christ and how nothing in this life is easy when you walk with Him. Jesus clearly tells us in God’s word “I have told you these things so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” -John 16:33. When you decide to follow Christ the only thing that you are guaranteed is eternal life with Him and that everything will be ok.

Wednesday, and Thursday went by and then Friday came along and I received another email from immigration saying they had mailed me my card. I immediately called and again they told me that there were backed up 2 months and that there was nothing they can do. I told them my case was approved and that I had a notice about my card being sent. They told me to hold and came back telling me I was right. I asked to get a tracking number for my card and they said they couldn’t provide me with one until Monday. Then I asked to verify the address that they had sent it to, because I had moved and they also could not help me. They told me that they would send it to either or, depending on what was in the system. I prayed and asked for God’s will and that I could get my card as soon as possible. Saturday morning came and I received a tracking number through email. I tracked it all day and by nighttime it was delivered to my old address. I had to wait until Monday to attempt to retrieve it, since the apartment complex office was closed until Monday.

Sunday came and with my church family rejoiced at the answered prayer and prayed again, this time that I could get my hands on the card come Monday. Monday came and after along explanation and “argument” I was able to retrieve my card form the mailbox. I called my boss and he immediately had me come into the office to get the rehiring process going. There was a lot to do, back ground check, drug test, physical, and a lot of paper work. But God knew it was not a lot, for Him anyway! In just one day I was able to get everything done. I got same day appointments and to some I got same day results! I couldn’t be more happy! Tuesday came along and I was informed everything was good for me to return to work on the next day which is tomorrow!

Just a week ago, on a Tuesday night like today I was praying for God’s will and that He would have His way. This Tuesday evening I am praying, thanking Him for His will in my life and for having His way! I am trully amazed at God's perfect timing and how when it seems such little time, He works miracles! One day before my permit expires, I get it renewed, and now a hiring process that takes up to a month, was complete in just two days! GOD IS GOOD! 

I hope that in this post and this long story you are able to see that God works truly the impossible! When everyone tells you it can’t be done, in His perfect timing IT CAN BE DONE! I hope that you can also see that when you unite in prayer, PRAYER DOES GET ANSWERED! Sometimes it takes years, as it did before I even had my first work permit and was in this country illegally for 20 years, and sometimes it is as fast as one week! I hope that you can see that God had placed in my work place the people I would need to handle my case along the way. I had previously met every person I came in contact with, this to show that God sends and surrounds you with the people that you need, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE! I hope that you are also able to see that when you trust God, as scary as the situation may be, HE WILL COME THROUGH! I hope that you are bale to see that God knows before hand what trouble you will face and that He walks before you and through Him, WE CAN OVERCOME!

So whatever you are going through right now give it up to God and trust Him. Know that He will turn all things for good, as He promised in Romans. Know that He has a plan for your life as He says so in Jeremiah. Know that as you trust in Him, He makes your paths straight as he tells us in Proverbs. But most importantly know that there is a time for everything in this world and in this walk with Christ as we can read in Ecclesiastes.

But most most importantly… as I said I pray that God will use my life to glorify Him, let that be the same for you, and watch as it happens. As I sat with one of the people from HR filling out the paperwork, and we started talking about how crazy this all has been. I told her more details and shared with her about the night God warned me. All of a sudden we were talking about God and how great He is! She then told me that when I initially emailed her, she had to hold back from replying to have faith that my permit would come, because it was a work email and she didn’t know where my faith stood. She said also that she prayed as she read my email and was hopeful that things would be ok. Without this situation I would have never gotten the opportunity to have such a conversation. 

I can’t wait to go back to work tomorrow and keep talking about God and how real He is! I pray that people see that it is only because of God that everything is now ok. As far as I know, immigration is still backed up and I am not the only one going through this mess.

I pray that this post encourages you in whatever situation you are in and that you too can know that in this life “It is going to be a mess, but it is going to be ok”. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZAUq1-c8dw  

This song is where the title for this post comes from.  :)