Two of my favorite verses from the Old Testament are:

“If you find your delight in the Lord, he grant your heart’s desire. Commit your life to the Lord. Trust in him, and he will act.” From the Psalms.

The other is from Proverbs 3: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

God will always guide us, if we let him, whether it’s obvious or not. Whether we know it or not.

That said, I think God shouts out at us from time to time, especially at the start of our spiritual journey, when we are still learning how to listen to Him. Generally, He speaks to me through Scripture, but as I alluded to earlier this week, there’s been one time He spoke very clearly to me through circumstance. It blew me away.

As hinted above, it was at the start of my spiritual journey: a couple of months after my conversion experience in 2014. In fact, everything took place between May 30 and August 3 or so.

I was at my Catholic parish’s Adoration chapel, which I was still somewhat new to. Adoration wasn’t something I had done much of before my conversion, though I’ve always been a practicing Catholic. (It’s so wonderful to pray before the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist! To just sit and soak in His Presence. I could not recommend it more.)

Now, I knew things had changed for me, that this was the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I knew that my job at the time, working as a veterinary receptionist, was not a long-term gig for a handful of reasons. But I was uncertain and nervous about how to move forward, namely because, well . . . I overthink EVERYTHING.

So I was at Adoration. I told God, honestly, “You know I overthink everything. I know my job at the vet isn’t necessarily long-term, but I’m generally exhausted, I have no idea how to find something else, and you KNOW how I overthink things. So when it’s time to move on, I’m going to need You to let me know. I’m going to trust You to do that.”

I didn’t think much more about it, until the first Friday in August. I came home from work to a Facebook message from a woman who’d graduated high school with my older sister. She and I had been on the quiz bowl team together my Freshman year. Let’s call her Judy.

Judy was currently teaching Spanish at our old high school. I have a Master’s degree in Spanish, almost got a doctorate in Spanish lit, and had experience teaching undergrads while I was in grad school. I had reached out to Judy when I first moved back home to see if there were any openings at our school. There weren’t.

That Friday a year later, Judy messaged me, “Did you know such and such Catholic school needs a Spanish teacher for this year? You should reach out to Tanya (not her real name) who’s the principal there.”

I was stunned. The school year was set to start in two weeks. Tanya had taught at my high school when I was a student there and knew my family. She and my little sister were somewhat close.

Then, fifteen minutes later, my sister texted me, “You need to call Tanya. Here’s her number. Such and such Catholic school needs a Spanish teacher.”

The Kicker

I suppose now is a good time to mention that I don’t have a car, and that such and such Catholic school was literally ACROSS THE STREET from the house I had moved into with a couple of grad students already living there because it was close to the vet.

I was just FLOORED.

Clearly, that was my sign. I had asked God to let me know when and how to move on. Well, He did it.

I only taught one year, but I’m so glad I did. I know God put me there that year for a reason.

The students were incredible. I

made a great friend who has taught me so much, because she took the time to reach out to the new introverted teacher struggling with the courseload. 🙂 She and I were later roommates for a year.

Also, I think if I hadn’t tried teaching high school, given my background, I would have always wondered whether I would have liked it and what it would have been like.

They say God works in mysterious ways, and certainly, sometimes His ways are that. Discernment is always needed. He gave us brains and expects us to use them.

Sometimes, though He lets you know, without a doubt where He wants you to go.

Especially if you’ve honestly and simply asked Him to do so, trustingly.