By Arlo Mellors, Jubilee Church Wirral

For I know the plans I have for you, Declares the lord, plans for welfare and not evil, to give you a future and hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

Most of my childhood I believed that what people thought of you was based on what type of job you had, how big your house was and what type of car you drove.

I didn’t see the sense in it at all. but in the back of my mind I was like most children/teenagers – I wanted the fast cars, the big house and loads of cash. Well that never happened, as the sequence of my life didn’t turn out that way  and mainly because of the way I ran my life. I didn’t always do things the Christian way. Until I gave my life to the Lord, then my life did change.

Although my life has been up and down, I have always known God is with me. No matter where I was or what I did, God was looking out for me.

The past few years, I have had this feeling that I am not good enough or worthy enough for all the good that has happened in my life. Seven years ago my life changed for the better, and again God was part of that. But I still had this feeling that I am not good enough, so I decided it must be because I am not being taken seriously enough and that I needed to have more money and best clothes etc.

So I decided to look for a better paid job with more responsibility. To look for a job with more of a  senior management  role, but still in my career path. So I looked around and applied for more senior positions and, with the experience I have obtained, I was in a good position for some of the applications I submitted.

Some applications were turned down but I did, however, receive an email asking me to come for a two-day interview, a one-day selection process and then an interview if I passed.

However, in my heart and in my mind, and after speaking to Gerry and praying and seeing signs, my heart was not really into going for the job. I went for the selection process and I passed so it was interview time, but knowing that I cannot really speak very well and my communications skills are not really the best, as a lot of you will know by now, I grunt a lot and have a face like thunder, but really I am just a big cuddly bear. I didn’t pass the interview, which I was relieved about.

But whilst all this is going on, I kept hearing and seeing that verse in Jeremiah – verse 29:11 – and listening to my work colleagues saying about that with the way I interact with the pupils and parents, I would be sorely missed.

Knowing what God is saying to me about helping other and being there for people, I have realised that I don’t need to have all the money in the world, a nice car, a big house or a senior management role.

All you need to have is to have God on your side to show you what you are really capable of doing in life, your own life and in someone else’s life.

Concentrate on reading your Bible, praying to God and listening to what is being said to you, either through the word, a sign or a person. God’s got your back. Believe in God, trust God and love God.

You don’t need material things in life, all you need is love, respect, hope and, most importantly, God.

Arlo Mellors, Jubilee Church Wirral