Finding Hope Again

Unhappy with work, despair at failing a friend… and then, a new beginning.

By Marilyn Cox, CMP

I had a great job in the travel industry for almost 23 years. Then the tragedy of September 11 struck. Thanks to subsequent cutbacks in the industry and overall economic recession, my work became extremely difficult, with staff cuts, long hours, and extended travel. I began to pray for the Lord to lead me to a new career, but after 15 months had passed and nothing else seemed to be in sight, I had begun to lose hope.

In the midst of this, a dear friend and neighbor, who was also my sister’s mother-in-law, lost her kidney function as a result of a childhood disease. Kay was in her mid-60s, so the chances were not good that she would get a cadaver kidney. After much prayer and discussion with my family, I offered to be tested to see if I could give her one of my kidneys. I knew we had the same blood type, but it was a shock to find out how much of a great match we were.

I was told by my doctor that we could have been mother and daughter, or even sisters! Our surgery date was set for November 8, 2005. Kay and her family and I were so elated that when the day came to go in to the hospital, we checked in and were celebratory! But bad news came that evening.

Kay was receiving her last dialysis and the doctors had found some possible problems and wanted Kay to see her specialist. Needless to say, the news was devastating to all of us. Over the next month, hope came and went as Kay got better and then fell ill again. After several days on life support in December 2005, Kay was able to be moved out of intensive care, but then she took a turn for the worse. On January 16, 2006, she died.

While I knew it was best for her to no longer suffer, I felt despondent and hopeless. Kay’s family kept telling me that I had given her hope for the nine months she had lived after I had agreed to give her my kidney. But, despite their words, I still felt deep despair.

One week following her death, I received a phone call. I was told that Joyce Meyer Ministries was looking for a new Conference Department Manager. Could it be true? Was God answering my prayers at this very time, when I was feeling at my all-time lowest? Yes, He was. You see, the job that I now have and love so very much, had not been available until January of 2006. The woman who held the position for the last five years was leaving to pursue another calling the Lord had placed within her. The job had not been available when I had started praying for it 15 months earlier.

When I had lost my hope and my joy, when I was in a very low place, I found the very job the Lord had picked for me: with a real ministry, with the loveliest of people, where I have grown leaps and bounds in faith and hope. I know that some day I will see Kay again and will share with her the message of hope and faith. As it says in Jerimiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope for the future.”

Marilyn Cox, CMP, joined Joyce Meyer Ministries as Conference Department Manager on March 2006. Joyce Meyer Ministries is based in Fenton, Missouri. Contact Cox at MCox@joycemeyer.org. We welcome your suggestions for our Inspiration page. Please send them to regina@collinsonpublishing.com.