He really does answer prayer

*Part two*

Now for the explanation of the introduction from part one. A couple of weeks ago, I interviewed for a job at Oregon Health and Science University, a large, wonderful, state-of-the-art university hospital system. I have dreamed of working or going to school there for as long as I can remember. I would have gotten hired, but I could only commit to 6 months because of the possibility I might start school in April, and they were hoping for someone who could commit a little longer. They still wanted to consider me, so I was thrown into the waiting game. I was very thankful that they gave me a chance even though I couldn’t commit, but it was very frustrating to know that had I not been waiting on a PA school app, I indubitably would have gotten this amazing job. The one thing preventing me from getting the job was the one thing I couldn’t control, and I wasn’t about to withdraw my PA school application for a job.

I decided to apply for a hospice job this past Monday, about two weeks after I would have gotten hired at OHSU (while still waiting on an answer from them). Hospice and palliative care is a field of medicine that recently grabbed my interest as I realized its importance as a medical specialty, and how valuable it is to patients and their families.

I got invited in for an interview only two days later, and received a job offer half an hour after I left. I was ecstatic (I was in a store and it was all I could do to not announce my news to everyone I saw), but now I was in a dilemma.

I hadn’t heard back from OHSU, which was still my top choice, but I only had two days to make my decision. I emailed the nurse manager, and she let me know the next morning that she’d hired someone else who could commit for a longer time. She also said she would pass on my name for another OHSU job I’d applied for. I waited about two hours, and decided to go up there myself in interview attire, find the other nurse manager and re-present my application in person.

When I arrived, I located the nurse manager’s office and eagerly made my way there, resume and cover letter in hand. However, when I arrived I found that she had just left for a long weekend—I’d missed her by two hours. My thrill ride was over.

I went outside and sat on a bench for about 20 minutes, just thinking and trying to figure out what to do. I don’t know why I felt inclined to stay--it’s not like she was going to come back—but I did anyway. I felt like I wouldn’t have peace about the hospice job until I had an answer from OHSU, but I knew that God sometimes (often) requires us to make hard decisions largely on our own. Finally, I decided that there was no harm in leaving my resume packet for the nurse manager when she returned, just in case I decided to postpone my job decision.

As I walked back in, I prayed that God would help me figure this out and find peace. I asked one of the office people to give her my packet when she returned, and they directed me to a lady in an office behind me. I handed her the envelope and briefly told her my story, and it turns out, she is the one who hires CNAs. I had gotten the wrong name. The one who had left for the weekend had nothing to do with the job I applied for, but if I hadn't come back I never would have known. She had already hired someone for the position but we chatted a bit, and she gave me her card and all but promised me a job when another opening arises. I will keep my eyes open for job postings and maybe I can transition there sometime next year. In the meantime, I have accepted the hospice job and I can’t wait to start!

That day, God answered my prayers so clearly. I cried tears of joy the whole drive home (trying to keep it together at stoplights) because I was so overwhelmed by His provision. He nudged me to stay those extra 20 minutes and go back in to deliver my packet. He clearly shut the doors for OHSU at this time in my life and opened the doors for another wonderful opportunity. All of the little things I was concerned about had I gotten hired at the hospital are non-issues with my new job. This job is perfect for me in this time of life in so many ways (if you want to hear the lowdown, please ask me!).

I also received an email letting me know that my PA program has sent out all their interview invitations, and I didn’t get one. But I wasn’t even disappointed, because God has made Himself so evident in this whole process that I have complete confidence that if and when He wants me to get in, I will.

God is SO GOOD.