I love true stories. In whatever medium or format. Because it somehow makes me feel like I’m not wasting my time. And for sure, there are lessons to be learned.
Well, what I’m about to tell you is a true story.
I have a friend who worked for this big local company that later went international. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the company — but there’s definitely something wrong with a certain department in that company. What they sorely need is an honest whistleblower.
But that’s getting ahead of my story…
Anyway, my friend worked for this company for several months. The department she was assigned to was in dire need of someone like her to accomplish critical tasks that the department had failed to do for more than a year already. So they were desperate for results.
By God’s grace, in just a few months, my friend did an awesome job. She accomplished what the department could not. However, instead of praising her — or at least recognizing her as an asset to the team — she was subjected to insults, sarcasm, and put-downs from her superiors. Her peers applauded her. But her superiors tried to steal the credit from her. I guess my friend’s stellar performance gave some people severe attacks of insecurity and performance anxiety.
To make matters worse, her bosses pressured my friend to lie and cheat — just to accomplish more. They wanted her to join them in their silent code of unethical practices which they said were “accepted” within the department.
My friend flatly refused. Instead, in written memos, she suggested several ways of doing things the right way — with no cheating or lying or deception involved. No breaking of company policies.
The process she suggested would take longer and require more work — but the task could definitely be done the RIGHT way. Doing the right thing is often the harder thing to do.
Her suggestions were rejected. Ignored. But she put everything in black and white to prove that she was standing up for what was right.
Tragically, as a result, my friend was subjected to even more persecution. More bullying by her bosses. So my friend opted to resign. Her resignation was a tortuous process. Her bosses were rude, unprofessional, and gave her a very hard time — up to her last day at work.
But error of errors, the company made this embarrassing mistake — it deposited a salary to her bank account even after she had already resigned!
So, honest as she is, my friend informed the company of their error — and even inconvenienced herself just to return the overpayment. They didn’t even thank her for her honesty.
Deeply wounded by her harrowing experience, my friend prayed for two things:
that God would vindicate her, and that God would give her a much better job than the last one! She prayed like a child who ran to her dad after some classmates bullied her and smacked her in the face for helping them do the right thing.
Fast forward a few months… My friend applied to two prestigious companies. She was accepted by both! The job offer she finally accepted was her dream job in a highly prestigious international company that offers one of the highest compensation packages in the Philippines. And yes, even internationally!!! Its medical and work benefits are legendary. That’s why people who manage to get in, stay for decades — and retire there.
The vetting and application process was rigorous, very strict, ultra professional. Out of more than 100 applicants for the position my friend applied for, only four of them were considered, vetted, and interviewed. To this day, my friend cannot believe how God orchestrated events to reward her with such a fantastic job!
And guess what — the day she received the formal offer for this dream job was also my friend’s spiritual birthday — the day she committed her life to Christ decades ago! God was clearly saying that this job was her REWARD for doing the right thing. For being a woman of Integrity.
She would’ve missed this fantastic new job if my friend chose to compromise! She’d probably still be stuck in that horrible, corrupt work environment up to now.
Her vindication? The bosses who persecuted and bullied her must’ve been utterly shocked to find out that my friend was being seriously considered for a position in this prestigious international company! My friend got congratulatory phone calls from her former office mates — her peers. They were ecstatic for her!!!
A character reference was, of course, needed from her supervisor in her last job. Whatever that person said didn’t prevent my friend from being hired. Probably, her other 3 character references from her previous jobs invalidated any negative feedback from the latest company she worked for, where she refused to compromise. That’s God’s protection.
One last thing. My friend’s new job is with a company that highly values Integrity. I believe that’s why she met their stringent standards. They saw and valued her integrity — on top of her expertise and work experience.
So the priceless lesson I learned here is — just do the right thing. God will vindicate and reward us in His perfect time — in ways that are beyond what we can think of or imagine! No one can outgive God.
“Cling to your faith in Christ. And keep your conscience clear.” (1 Timothy 1:9)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you KNOW you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
(Colossians 3:23-24, emphasis mine)
