IOW--What a Difference a Year Makes

My dear husband is known for his practicality, his ability to see a plan for the vision and his ability to execute and deliver the plan. They are God-given gifts and he uses them both at work and in his ministries. In fact, it has recently been intimated to him that his presence in a certain ministry was desired because they needed/wanted someone who could administer a plan. He's been a part of that ministry so they know his style. German and I were discussing whether God was calling him back to that ministry and he said the most interesting thing. He said, "I'm not the same person I was then and I won't lead in practicality the way they want." We went on to discuss how the past year has been a leap of faith. Then the statement was made, "Once you have followed God in faith you never want just the mundane again." He spoke of the vision he had for that ministry--and practicality did not figure into it.

What has happened in a year that took German from Mr. Practicality to Mr. Vision? Simply put, God happened. For those of you who were not reading with me last year, let me tell the story again (if you have heard it, please forgive me). German worked for the same company in IT for 18 years. He was successful. He was at the "top of his game." Things were going really well within the teams he was leading. But early in 2006, he was just not happy. He was unsettled. As everyone was praising his work, he was finding it tedious and futile. He spoke with a recruiter for another company and interviewed. Although the interview went well, he was assured that things moved "incredibly slow" in this company and not to expect to hear anything for quite a while. We went on holiday to the States. We prayed. We talked with a Godly friend about it. We prayed. We prayed some more. When we returned we just knew that God was calling German to resign. There was no job offer. There was no promise of a job offer. We live in a foreign country where we can only stay if we have a job. We lived in a house that was rented by our employer. German is a manager who could be escorted out of the building immediately if he resigns. Resigning without a job makes no sense. But God said do it--and on April 22, 2006 German gave six weeks notice and resigned his job.

And then we waited. Our landlord would not allow us to take over the lease from the company and we had to move by the end of May. We didn't have a job to put on a lease application. But we found a house that was/is perfect for us and were able to lease it without any proof of employment. We continued to wait. Many of our belongings were in storage in the US (stored by previous employer). They had to be moved to us since the company was no longer paying for the storage. That was arranged. We continued to wait. We clung to the promises that God had a plan for us, "plans to prosper (us)and not to harm (us), plans to give (us) hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). His employer did not question his loyalty to doing his job and he was able to work out the six week notice. Mid-May German received a job offer from the company that was "extremely slow". We had heard that it could take up to 3 months from offer to start with paperwork, reference checks etc. He finished his last day of work on May 30 with his former company. He started his first day of work with his new company on June 1. God proved Himself faithful. We never missed a paycheck. We always had a roof over our head. Integrity and sanity were intact in what should have been a stressful time. But we don't see the stress, we see the hand of God. God called us to step out in faith, and we trusted Him. The results have been amazing. Someone once told me "The finger of God never points where the hand of God won't provide." How true that was for us!

But a year on, we are different people. Not daring, risk-taking at all costs fools. But people who are willing to take the risk of following God because He is faithful. He provides when He calls us out in faith. We revel in His faithfulness and we no longer quake at what 'might' happen. When God gives the vision, we want to be a part of it. And I don't want to ever go back to mundane service, now that I have experienced the joy of following God in faith. It is so much more rewarding to see Him at work. If you have never taken the risk, I urge you trust Him and follow Him--no matter how scary the path looks. He is faithful and He will reward. Blessings on your day.

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.”
~ Oswald Chambers ~

Iris is the hostess this week for In Other Words. Please join us with your reflections on this great Oswald Chambers quote!