Written by: Julie Arduini
1/6/2010 11:00 PM 

I'm all about surrender, so when I see a story about surrender, I love it.  Josh is a friend from FaithWriters and beyond being a gifted writer, I grow from his authentic sharing about his walk with Christ.  Josh recently shared his testimony and I asked if he would mind sharing with you.  If you know the whole wrestle with God thing, know Josh has been there and surrender doesn't mean perfection.  Josh surrendered and is letting God carry him.  His journey with Jamie is just beginning!

2009….What a year.

Saying that this year has been “life changing” would be a complete understatement. My name is Josh Janoski, and I am a computer tech by day and a hobbyist writer the rest of the time. Julie asked if I would like to share with you my surrender story, and I felt like it would be a great opportunity to show the power of God and what He can do in a person’s life if they will give everything over to him.

Back to 2009. What happened? I am 27 years old, and I have been single that entire time. One of my biggest struggles during my early twenties was accepting the fact that I was single. While other guys I knew were out on dates with their girlfriends, I was at home praying that God would send me that special woman who not only would love me but would love Him more than anyone and anything. Well, on December 26th, 2008 I began talking to a girl online who would be the answer to that prayer. I had been living in the same old town for 26 years, and I was ready to tread on new ground. I live in Colorado, and I love this state, so I decided to move three hours north and take a job at the University of Northern Colorado. I wouldn’t know anyone there, but I figured that maybe I would meet some people after I settled down.

I had tried the online dating scene, and I had three failed attempts at relationships. However, I felt like this move would change things for me. Perhaps a new location would bring new opportunities into my life, maybe some new friends and a possible relationship. With the suggestion of a female friend, I decided to try a new Christian singles website. I had nothing to lose. Worst case scenario I would fail like every other time. Best case scenario I would come out with some friends or maybe even a girl I could court. God gave me the best case scenario.

I met up with Jamie the first weekend of January this year, just days after starting my new job at UNC. We fell in love, and I knew that she would be the woman I would marry. What happened after that was a rollercoaster ride for the remainder of the year. We lived two hours apart, and she had just got her own business started where she was at. There was no way that she was going to be able to move, and I began loving my job. It was the best job I had ever had, which made me less enthused about moving again. I had the perfect woman and the perfect job, but they were in different places. I had to make a decision about which was more important to me.

The distance put a strain on my relationship with Jamie. We wanted to get married, but unless I could find work where she lived, then there was no way that we could become one. About a month ago, a position opened up with a Christian organization in Colorado Springs. It was a job that would allow me to be with Jamie and get married, but there was a sacrifice to be made.

This new job would pay 10,000 less per year and I would lose all, and I mean ALL of my benefits including paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan. I refused to give all of that up. I argued with God about how unfair it was for me to have to sacrifice so much, and yet in my heart I knew He was calling me to this job.

I e-mailed the staffing agency who was trying to place me and told them I wasn’t interested in the job. I went to bed and woke up early the next morning. I began my wrestling match with God again and told Him that I didn’t want to do this. I was used to having God visit me whenever I was praising Him, but I never had him touch me when my attitude was crummy. But this time I felt the Holy Spirit flood over me while I was complaining. For anyone who has experienced a visit from the Holy Spirit, you know the feeling I am referring to. Suddenly, I felt myself being gripped by God and I heard Him clearly tell me that I was giving an unacceptable sacrifice much like Cain did in the book of Genesis. I got out of bed with a completely different outlook on my situation and went to work only to receive a call from the staffing agency that afternoon asking me if I would reconsider and interview for the position. I told them I would and asked God to forgive me for refusing to surrender to His calling. I asked Him to not let me get the job unless it was indeed His will, and after the interview I got a call two hours later saying that I received it.

I was happy to take the position, because I knew (and still do know) that God is going to fill that gap where I have sacrificed. Much like Abraham was confident that God would provide an alternate sacrifice when he took Isaac to the altar, so do I know that God is going to see me through. I am blessed to now have a wedding date set and a new job coming up. 2009 changed my life, but 2010 is going to continue to change my heart. If God is calling you to do something, I have one piece of advice for you – do it. Don’t let anyone hold you back, not even yourself. Surrender to God, and He will bless you. Sacrifice, and watch God return that sacrifice tenfold. And never put money or things before God and the important people in your life.

Thank you for reading my story. I hope it has encouraged you today. God bless Julie for letting me share, and God all of you, the readers.

  Josh Janoski

photo courtesy Josh's Facebook profile :)

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