“Retired from the Front Lines this Black Friday, but still praying for y’all”

When Faith Meets Black Friday... from the Break Room of Heaven

This year, for the first time in over a decade, I won’t be at the front doors at 5:00 a.m., keys in one hand, lukewarm coffee in the other, praying that the barcode scanner works and that no one asks me where we keep the 3-in-1 curling wand set (again). 

No, ma’am, this year I will not be running the floor like a half-baptized drill sergeant with a headset. 

I will not be scraping perfume testers off the tile or restocking holiday eyeshadow kits with glitter in places I’d rather not discuss. 

This year… I’m off the front lines. 

But don’t get it twisted; I may not be there in body, but I’m there in spirit, in prayer, and in full intercessory retail warfare. 

To my beloved Black Friday team: 

May your scanners stay synced, your guests stay grateful, and your spirit stay unbothered. I’m praying for your sanity, your stamina, and your lunch break (because we both know it’s a 50/50 chance). 

Because Gratitude Isn’t Just for the Good Days 

As I sit this one out (from a safe distance with cinnamon rolls and slippers), God reminded me of something through Nehemiah 12, a passage not about discounts or doorbusters, but about dedication and deep-rooted gratitude. My pastor actually preached on this recently, and it had me reflecting hard, how Nehemiah 12 isn’t about a holiday moment, but about a lifestyle of worship that honors God in both the ordinary and the overwhelming. 

Here’s the truth: Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday; it’s a heart posture. 

And sometimes, that posture is shaped not at the dinner table, but in the day-to-day grind, the messy, glittery, understaffed chaos of real life. 

1️⃣ A Grateful Heart Follows God’s Pattern 

Nehemiah’s people prepared intentionally, aligning their worship with God’s word and legacy. 

They didn’t just wing it, they followed the pattern, even in the hard times. 

Retail fam, this applies to you: even in 14-hour shifts and mystery glitter explosions, you can still align your spirit with God’s truth. Don’t let chaos cancel your calling. Let your pattern be praise, not panic. 

📦 Yes, even when someone opens a lotion gift set... and leaves it in the lipstick display. 😩 

2️⃣ A Grateful Heart Overflows with Praise 

Nehemiah’s crew didn’t whisper their thanksgiving; they sang it loudly. They turned their work into worship. 

This Black Friday, may your music be blasting, your soul still dancing, and your lips still offering praise, even if the registers freeze, and Karen demands 40% off something that’s not on sale. 

Let your shift be a witness. 

Let your patience be praise. 

Let your sarcastic humor be sanctified (okay, within reason). 

3️⃣ A Grateful Heart is Proven in Faithfulness 

The people in Nehemiah 12 were faithful, not just in the big celebration, but in the daily grind of rebuilding. They served with joy, not because it was easy, but because it honored God. 

So, to my beauty counter warriors, stock room saints, and cashier champions, you are worshipping in the work. Jesus sees you restocking those towel headbands for the fourth time. He sees the effort, the exhaustion, and the extra mile. Faithfulness in the frenzy is still faithfulness. 

So, Here’s My Black Friday Benediction: 

Though I am no longer marching through the mascara aisle like a holy hurricane... 

Though my headset is hung and my manager badge retired... 

I lift up this prayer: 

May your hands be steady, your coffee strong, your customers kind, and your returns minimal. 

May your soul remember that even when it’s chaotic, you are called. 

And may your gratitude not depend on the day, but on the God who holds it. 

Because gratitude isn’t surface-level. It’s a lifestyle. It’s what gets you through long lines, lost lip liners, and limited lunch breaks. 

And when your shift ends and the lights go off and you’re picking shimmer out of your bra, May you whisper one last “Thank You, Lord.” Not because it was easy, but because it was worship. 

"And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy." – Nehemiah 12:43 (NIV)

From my cozy slippers to your black ballet flats, from my cinnamon rolls to your lukewarm coffee, know this: I’m praying for you, rooting for you, and thanking God for every beauty warrior on the floor today. 

Stay blessed, stay hydrated, and stay unbothered. 

With grace, grit, and a heart full of thanks, 

— Raquel 💜 

Blessed, retired from Black Friday, but never too far from the hustle.