“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Martin Luther King Jr.
I am often reminded of the following two scriptures when I feel like God isn’t listening to me:
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “pray without ceasing [coming to an end/to stop]”
Galatians 6:9 – “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
There are times when I feel like a spiritual warrior, and then there are times when I feel like no matter how hard I pray, I’m defeated. I wasn’t going to make this blog all spiritual or religious, but let’s face it I am who I am. A huge part of my life is based around my faith (be it sometimes as little as a mustard seed). Then again this post isn’t so much about having a life of prayer (etc) it’s about my quest with the company Thirty-One.
A few years back I had been looking into different money-making opportunities that I could do from home. At the time I was working full-time, and it was just something I was playing around with. I came across this Christian based company called Thirty-One. At the time of my search there were no other Reps in this area, and to be honest there wasn’t one even within an hours drive. I decided I didn’t WANT to be the only one. There would be no support system and no other Reps to discuss things with. A year later I had thought about it again and emailed my Pastor’s wife and told her about my ideas and asked them to pray with me.
Upon praying, I decided that I would wait and not move forward. Okay, so yeah it is $99 to enroll, but I wasn’t quick to jump into a company that, for the most part, no one had ever heard of. The idea kept returning to me and I would gently brush it aside. I attended a community shower earlier this year and met a woman we will call Susie Q. The moment I met her, there was this spiritual connection like something drawing me to her. Come to find out, she was a counseling minister at a church in town. In addition, she was selling Thirty-One! I was quick to get her information, and then after a few moments of talking my sister and I continued on our table-stopping journey.
After several emails back and forth with Susie Q, we decided I would try a catalog/online party. I was still undecided about whether or not to join the company. Here I was again, with the same Christian-based company stood on Proverbs 31 (a chapter I LOVE) and still, I questioned whether or not this was for me.
For several months I was met with barriers, obstacles, and any other kind of crazy junk you could imagine. I had tried to host a catalog/online party and received no orders. Maybe this was God’s way of showing me that He didn’t intend for me to sell Thirty-One. Susie Q and I decided we would try this party thing again, and host a party at her home this time. Thought it might be easier to actually see the product in front of you, instead of looking at pictures online. But, I was still wary that it wouldn’t work out, and that I would be wasting her time. Leading up to the day of the event it would seem as though everything was falling apart. We decided something bigger was at work, and we continued to pray and believe that God would open doors.
The day of the event rolled around, and once again we were faced with obstacles. I was discouraged to be honest with you, because it seemed like NOTHING was going right. Lover told me that even if I was the only one there I needed to go, because something bigger was at work. Now I knew my butterfly girl was coming for sure – so even if it was just the three of us it was a go ahead!
I packed up snacks and lemonade and headed out the door. On the way I continued to pray that the night would go smoothly and that whatever God wanted to do I was game for. I told Him that like an earthly Father He desires to give His children good gifts. I explained to Him that I know sometimes blessings do not come in material form and that I was okay with that too. Then of course I had to tell Him that we were looking at double free products if we hit $500.00 in sales and wouldn’t that be frugal of me?! I think God enjoys my subtle humor at times. I closed by giving Him the night and thanking the Holy Spirit for His presence while we were there.
The night went over great and there were six of us total (including Susie Q). There was no huge marching parade and fireworks, but it was a relaxed and enjoyable couple hours. I had brought a couple orders with me and by the end of the night I was more than half way to my goal. I left the party thankful for a great night and continued to believe I would meet my goal.
The next day I once again had the thought of joining Thirty-One. Why do I keep coming back to this?! So once again Susie Q and I began praying. After talking to Lover, we decided it was a win-win. By this point I had reached my $500 goal and would be receiving the $180 in free products! Then the commission off the party was already at $125 so that would reimburse the enrollment fee. In addition, I had several offers immediately come in to host a party or do a catalog party. It’s amazing how once you step out in faith and persevere how quickly the walls fall.
I think the online dictionary says it best: “Perseverance is a steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.” I am thankful for the continued prayer of those around me and that the walls have crumbled and we can move forward in faith that God is up to something much bigger than purses!
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