“Erica, would you consider being my executive secretary?”
One Sunday morning a couple of years after becoming a single mom, I was at church when a lovely couple came up to me. The husband, the vice president of a very large finance department, asked me if I would like to be his secretary. I stood before them, shocked, “Me?” I don’t have any experience in that field at all, nor do I have a degree or even a resume,” I fearfully told him.
He said, “Anyone who can raise five kids on their own has to have some skills.” He continued telling me that I would do great, as long as I had integrity and a willingness to learn new things. This proposition was such an honor. I loved this family so much and to think I would be able to have a Christian boss was more than I could ever hope for.
This job changed my life in so many ways. As mentioned, my new boss was the vice president and corporate controller of the finance department of a huge health care system with over 20,000 employees. For many years, this business was voted as one of the top one hundred companies to work for in the United States. Walking up to my office on the first day and seeing my name and title posted on my own desk, next to my own computer while looking out at hundreds of skyscrapers, thirty-three floors up, in downtown corporate America was an experience I will never forget. I was surrounded by top executives and had no time to wallow in my fear and intimidation.
I remember the first time I had to schedule a meeting for all the directors. As I reserved the room, sent out invitations to each of the director’s calendars, and put together the PowerPoint slides for the main presentation, I was astounded how God gave me the grace and the clarity to do it all. When he asked me to be in the corporate meeting with him, I couldn’t believe it, it was so surreal. I was so humbled and in awe as I thought he must really believe I have value if he wanted me to accompany him to this meeting. I wonder how many moms are out there battling those same feelings of not being good enough for the task you have been assigned.
My boss believed in me and saw greatness in me even when I didn’t see it myself. He didn’t even think twice about it. He just said, “Erica, I need you to do this.” I continually doubted myself. But I had to find a way to make it happen. I had to look fear in its face and conquer it head on.
On the job, at times I made mistakes. I was so mentally stretched, but both my boss and God continually believed in me and motivated me to learn hard things. That is what gave me the confidence to continue striving harder as I continued to be stretched even further.
One day, I was tasked with bringing another high ranking employee to my boss after discovering they had done something ethically wrong. He told me that I needed to take care of this immediately, not by e-mail, or by phone, but do it face to face.
At that moment, I found myself asking the same question I asked when I was first hired: “You want ME to do this? Can I really do that all by myself?” So, with fear and trepidation, I went and found her, interrupted her meeting, and told her that she was needed right away. She simply said, “Okay, let’s go!”
I was shocked! I couldn’t believe I was able to just go and get a well respected, high-ranking employee just like that. While I was in the elevator taking her up to my boss, there were two other vice presidents with us. One said, “You have Erica escorting you. This must really be important.” When he said that, I thought to myself, I am nothing but a secretary.
It was at that moment I realized that since I was escorting someone in the name and the authority of my boss, I was able to accomplish much. God used that situation to show me what can happen in the spiritual realm when we truly take on the authority and power of His name.
In the natural, I am just a struggling, single mother of five children. Maybe your walk is similar or it may look slightly different. I’m not sure what your circumstances look like, but I have a word that you need to hear today. When you take on the NAME of God…
- You are no longer husbandless. Your maker is your husband! (Is. 54)
- You are no longer fatherless. Abba Father is your Daddy!
- You are no longer poor. Jehovah Jireh is your provider. “I have not seen the righteous (those in right standing with God) abandoned nor his descendants pleading for bread.” (Ps. 37:25)
- Your mind is no longer in turmoil because Jehovah Shalom is your peace that passes all human understanding!
- You are no longer overwhelmed because Jehovah Nissi is your banner of victory. You are an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of your testimony!
- You are no longer lost because Jehovah Rahi is your Shepherd! He leads and guides you. Never will He leave or forsake you.
- You are no longer full of sin because Jehovah M’kaddesh is your Holiness and Jehovah Tsidkenu is your righteousness. You are made pure through His Word, and you are in right standing with God!
- You are no longer sick, for Jehovah Rapha is your healer. By His stripes you are healed!
The list goes on and on because our God is that big of a God. You no longer have to do things in your own strength because as a child of God, He takes on your battles for you. The good news? He is never lost a battle and He never will. Today, I want to encourage you to trade your name for God’s name so that you will no longer live in defeat or discouragement anymore!