I drove into work last Thursday after being away from the office for over a week due to illness; I was still not well but I was having issues with my doctor’s office as my doctor was on vacation and the communication between the four nurses was less than helpful and more than confusing.

I finally gave up on obtaining a doctor’s note for the week, which I clearly needed in order to let my body heal, and I drove in to work quite sick but determined to push through. I am, if nothing more, tenacious. I had made an appointment that morning to be seen by another physician but the appointment was canceled by the office, and with my sick time almost used up and without a doctor’s note to cover my absence, I had no choice but to return to work. I worked a full 8.5 hour day, only to receive a voicemail five minutes before the close of the day from one of the nurses telling me she had faxed my HR rep a doctor’s note.

I was immediately concerned and curious, as I had not requested a doctor’s note and wondered what it would say.

I marched into Andy’s office and asked if he had received a fax. He had, indeed, and the note read that I had been treated by my doctor that day (clearly I had been at work all day) and that I was not to return to work until the following Monday.

Andy quizzically looked at me, and I burst out laughing and grasped for some explanation for the office’s seeming incompetence.

Thankfully, both Andy and my supervisor were extremely understanding of the situation.

I thus took the following day off, thanking God for his provision, for while my paid sick time off had almost completely run out, I had half a day left to apply towards my unexpected day off — and guess who received in the mail that week, in cash, an unexpected gift in the exact amount of a half day’s wages? Nothing more, nothing less than the exact amount.

God is always faithful and continually reminds me that He knows even the most intimate details of my life.

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For the first time in my life, I am at a place of vulnerability with regard to finances, by choice. And God is providing, in unique ways, as I walk this road and trust Him for my future.

Walking away from the security of a 9-5, well-paying job is a bit challenging, but I welcome the challenge and it’s a great adventure.

I’m learning what it means to truly pray the Lord’s prayer “Give us this day our daily bread” and I’d have it no other way for it clearly drives home the reality that we sometimes too easily forget: our security is only in the Lord’s provision. It is easy to get sucked into the numbing deception that the corporate world provides security until we unexpectedly lose our jobs or have our salary cut or find ourselves unable to work — it is easy to forget that everything we have comes from the one who created us and gives us breath each day.

For me, at this stage in life, I’m remembering daily from where my bread comes. And I like it that way.

- Christen Patterson, July 23, 2007