My employer’s words struck terror in my heart: “I’m sorry, Jock, but we have to let you go. We’ve got to downsize to stay afloat.” Just like that, my 14-year career with a marketing agency was over. The chances of my finding another good job at age 51 were minuscule. How would I support my wife and four-year-old son?
Panicked, I prayed, “Lord, please lead me to a job.” Then I signed up for unemployment and scoured the want ads. I called everyone I knew. One woman I interviewed with asked, “Could you do a freelance assignment for us?” I agreed, thinking it might get my foot in the door.
When a former colleague begged, “Look, you have to help us with these projects! We’ll bring you in as a consultant,” I jumped at the chance for work.
After three months, I still hadn’t landed a full-time job. Freelance work kept coming in, though, so I couldn’t complain, especially since I was able to take “time off” to chaperone my son’s preschool field trips.
One day my wife said, “I don’t think you need to collect unemployment anymore.” I stared at her. “What do you mean?” I started to protest. She pointed to the long list of consulting assignments I had scheduled. Then I realized, Hey, I’m doing all right!
Two years later, I’m still working from home—and loving it. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined myself making a living freelancing. But God had, and he’s led me to not just a job, but to one good job after another.
