Dropping out of high school was a decision that Yulma Phillips regretted for years.

It seriously limited her options for employment and, as a result, she wound up working a manufacturing plant job that lasted 19 grueling years.

“It was very fast-paced,” said Yulma. “It required continual heavy lifting assembling auto parts. It was physically very difficult.”

The job gradually took its toll on Yulma in many ways.

“I was tremendously tired by the end of each day,” Yulma noted. “I had no energy left to do anything other than go home and climb in a hot tub with Epsom salt.”

“My family and friendships suffered,” she continued. “I had no extra time or energy to invest in them.”

As the years went by, Yulma realized she would not be able to continue doing this job.

“I remember going to church and asking the elders to pray for me,” recalled Yulma. “I wanted the physical pain to end. It was unbearable. I wasn’t sure how long I could continue to do what I was doing.”

Not too long after that prayer, she suffered a shoulder injury that put her on restricted hours at work with light duty.

Again, Yulma turned to those in her church community to pray for her, including a group of ladies from her small group. After praying, one lady suggested she go back to school and get her GED.

“I remember saying to her ‘In my 40’s!?” smiled Yulma. “I really didn’t think it would be possible for me, but then God reminded me of Luke 1:37 that says, ‘For with God nothing will be impossible.’”

Strengthened with that promise, Yulma enrolled in college in 2018 and received her GED in six months. After that, she pursued (and complete in a year) medical coding classes that would open doors for her in the medical field.

“I have been proudly working at my local hospital for the last three and half years doing a job that I truly love and enjoy while helping my community,” Yulma said with joy.

Yulma acknowledged she would not have been able to overcome her high school regrets and achieve the goals she did without the gracious encouragement and abundant support of her personal community.

“I am forever grateful to God who has always been so faithful and merciful to me,” Yulma said. “I’m also so grateful to the best husband in the world and the incredible support of a terrific church family.”

Yulma knows firsthand how scary changing careers can feel and offers these words to those who may be experiencing a similar challenge in their own lives right now.

“It’s okay to feel discouraged,” she noted. “And it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed.”

“But anyone is capable of achieving anything they set their mind to with faith, determination, and, ultimately, God’s grace and guidance,” Yulma concluded. “God is so good all the time.”

~~~~~

Have you been enjoying these God stories? Do you have a God story you’d like to share? I would love to hear it! Reach out to me using this contact page!

Remember, your life is a gift to the world and your God story matters.

Someone needs to hear it.

Until next time, Grace and Glory!