The Search - Watermark News

“I’ve gone through tragedy and job loss...but they do not define me. I am first a child of God.” – Martha Garza

Martha Garza knows what it’s like to feel abandoned.
“ I was unemployed for almost three years,” said Martha. “My job search began in 2009, and it seemed like every door was shut. I did odd jobs to keep food on the table. It felt like I was living in a vacuum. But God proved faithful and provided in ways I never expected.”

This was certainly not the first time Martha saw God provide during times of adversity. Martha learned about God’s love at an early age and put her faith in Christ
 as a child. But when she was assaulted as a young adult, she began asking hard questions about her faith. “That tragic event caused me to question whether God was who I thought Him to be,” said Martha.

When she reached out to a leader at the church she grew up in, her questions about God’s sovereignty were met with judgment and disapproval. “That response affected me deeply, but it also drove me to get a Bible. I went through God’s Word cover to cover, wanting to find the truth about the Lord.”

As she read, Romans 8:28 caught Martha’s attention. “That passage helped me see that God didn’t cause the tragedy, but He could use it for good. Fast-forward years later as I volunteered at Parkland Hospital, and God used my experience for His glory and another person’s comfort. God used that painful moment in my life many times over for the good of others.”

Martha says she relied on Romans 8:28 as she endured the hardships of a long-term job search, which eventually led her to Careers in Motion (CIM), Watermark’s jobs ministry. As Martha began working on the details of her job search (writing a resume, networking and composing a LinkedIn profile), she discovered that was the easier part of the job search.

“Like so many at CIM, aligning my life with God’s Word was the hardest part of the process,” said Martha. “I always had been very self-reliant and was proud of ‘my’ achievements. After years with no income, I knew I was totally reliant on God to help me make the transition. Through CIM, God allowed me to meet a lot of wonderful people, and He eventually put opportunities in my path.”

Eventually, Martha began leading groups at CIM, even
as her own job search continued. The life-change she saw in other women was a big encouragement. “If I had not experienced a long-term job search, I wouldn’t understand what it’s like to feel rejected and invisible,” said Martha. “I have the opportunity to tell women that they have not been forgotten or rejected by God. We are visible to
 Christ and He cares. That’s the connection each one of 
us needs.”

Every Tuesday morning, Martha and other volunteers at CIM offer practical help on resume development, job leads, networking and more. CIM also connects participants with the body of Christ and a community of believers who can encourage them as the job search continues. “The connection to biblical community is the most effective tool,” said Martha.

Today Martha is working as an independent consultant
 at a software development company. Many of her co-workers have been curious about why she spends every Tuesday serving at CIM. “While at lunch with co-workers, I got to tell someone about my faith in Christ,” said Martha. “I explained how Christ influences my life, and how this ministry helps people look at a job search from a biblical perspective.”

Those moments remind Martha of how faithful God has been to work for her good in all circumstances. “I’ve gone through tragedy and job loss. These experiences are part of me, but they do not define me. I am first a child of God, and I know that He works all things together for my good and His greater glory.”

Careers-in-Motion

Encouraging people through periods of job drought

Tuesdays • 7:45–10:00 am • WM Tower/3rd Fl.

Unemployed? Underemployed? Wanting to make a job change? Careers-in-Motion meets every week to help jumpstart your job search, complement your networking, and offer practical advice, all from a biblical perspective.