God is just answering my prayers

As many of you probably know…I am a grill cook at…Denny's and…I hate it. Denny's has consistently and constantly kept me from hanging out with my friends, going to concerts and doing things with the youth ministry. A lot of people have told me that I should quit that job, just get a new one, you hate it. I have told people that I could not because it just pays so well, I could not possibly find a better job.

Let's face it guys…I am lying.

What you probably do not know about four months ago I received an e-mail from my pastor. In the e-mail was an application for a "perfect" job. This job was off the hook. I am talking about benefits, I got to create my own schedule, the majority of the work was on a computer and it paid a full dollar more than Denny's. When I left the interview the man told me that I had the job, I just had to let him know if I wanted it. He told me to pray about it and to see what God had to say. I prayed and I prayed and I knew that I could not take the job. Something was not right and God did not want me there.

Immediately I felt convicted, "God is punishing me for not being a good person I thought." You see I have been praying for a long time for God to help me become a better person. I have been praying for God to help me become more patient, to help me control my anger and just be a kinder person. Since I have failed in these areas in my life I honestly thought God just did not want me to be happy.

Wait…that does not sound like the God I know. What happened to the good who lays me down in green pastures even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death? When did God do a 360 and started hating me.

What happened to ask and being given too?

What happened to seeking and finding?

What happened to knocking and that darn door being opened?

Obviously he did not change but why were my prayers not being answered. Well let's look at what I was asking for. I was asking for God to help me become a better person. I wanted to be more patient; I wanted to be able to control my anger; and I wanted to be kinder. All of these things I struggled with at Denny's.

If you ask for patients do you think God just makes you patient? Do you think he just zaps you with patients? Or does he present you with situations to become more patient?

What a fool have I been! Every time a new cook messed up I had a chance to be patient. Every time we got busy I had a chance not to get angry. Every time a server messed up I had a chance to be kind.

So why am I still at Denny's…God is just answering my prayers.