I know I told you in the last post to visit ReachtheCity.org for more updates about our journey in Vancouver. However, I couldn't resist reposting Victor's lasted blog. I am just overwhelmed as I read the story and look back on how God has poured out His grace, provision, mercy, and love on us. I long to serve others the way He serves us.
We moved to Vancouver trusting in the One who called us here, the Creator of the universe. But there are times when that gets very difficult. It’s not so much that we don’t trust God, it’s that we sometimes don’t know what it looks like to trust Him in a particular situation. We recognize that God ordered our steps long before we began taking them. We understand that God has a will for each and every one of our lives–a good, pleasing, and perfect will. But what does it look like to actively trust Him when we don’t know what His will is?
I have learned a lot about God’s character over the last few years. He’s revealed bits and pieces at different times and in different ways. Still, I can say with unwavering certainty that at this point in my life, there has been no single event through which God taught me more about Himself than when He provided for me the job I currently have in Vancouver.
We arrived in Vancouver on May 21 and almost immediately I began job-hunting. Looking at my background, I was open to a number of roles. I had some solid sales experience I could fall back on. My undergraduate degree was in finance and I had little bit of an accounting background. I also looked into retail quite a bit as I felt it would provide great opportunities for building relationships. I sent out resume after resume after resume. I worked really hard at finding a job, leaving no stone unturned. And I was fortunate enough to be granted several interviews. However, it became clear that I was only going to get a job doing one thing, so my best bet was to really seek God and search my own self. I needed to focus my efforts.
I decided that with all things considered (i.e. work environment and how it might facilitate relationship building; schedule as it relates to being a husband, father & church planter; personal marketability, etc.), my best opportunities lie in either a finance/accounting job or some sort of office manager or business manager. With a more narrowed focus, I sent out resume after resume after resume and saw very little activity. On Wednesday, June 23, I had a great phone conversation with my friend Casey. While I had remained relatively upbeat, I shared with Casey a desire to see God pull through. I knew God would provide the right job in the right time, but I was tired of looking and wanted that “right time” to be “right now!”
I got off the phone with Casey at about 5:45pm and really began crying out to God. My prayer was, “Show me that your hand is in this. Show me that your hand is in something else. Just show me something!” Moments later, at 5:55pm, my cell phone rang. On the other end was the owner of a small accounting firm in North Vancouver. He had received my resume and was wanting to know what caused me to move from Texas to Vancouver. I told him my wife has been asked to serve as a minister to children at a new church start in Vancouver. He immediately showed interest in this and after asking a few preliminary questions regarding my accounting experience, he began asking lots of questions about the churches I served in and the church staff positions I have held. He also talked about some of the other churches in the area. After spending several minutes on the phone, he said he wanted to have me come in so he could hear more from me. He asked when would be a good time. “Well,” I said, “I’m free tomorrow.” “Ok,” he said. “Would you rather meet tomorrow morning or afternoon?” I replied, “Tomorrow morning works well for me.”
I hung up the phone thanking God for His provision and allowing me to see Him at work. I called Casey back to give him an update. I told him about me crying out to God, about the phone ringing minutes later, about the conversations surrounding church, and about the interview. As it turns out, Casey had prayed the very same prayer as soon as we hung up the phone last.
Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. ~Matthew 18:18-20
On June 24, I went in for my first interview with LedgersOnline and it went great! When it was over, I told Lyndsey, “There was nothing I could have done or said that could have made it go any better. Naturally,” I continued, “they are interviewing other people who are more experienced than me, but based on what I do bring to the table, I don’t think there is any way my skills could have been better represented than they were in that interview.” I’m not sure I can recall a time when God seemed to more carefully craft my every word than in that interview.
There were many things about that job and that company that seemed to be a really good fit. I noticed that when I first viewed the job ad on craigslist. Throughout that weekend I prayed to God, thanking Him for the opportunity, thanking Him for being the Great Provider, for being worthy of absolute trust. I talked to God about the various ways in which that job seemed to be a good fit. I prayed that, if it be His will, He would open that door. I then told Him that, truthfully, I desire that to be His will.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ~Psalm 37:4 (esv)
As you seek God and delight yourself in following Him, He will place in your heart desires that are not only in line with, but are also aimed at accomplishing or fulfilling His will. ~Psalm 37:4 (my commentary)
On Sunday morning, June 27, I was sitting on our balcony reading my Bible, talking to God, and watching the people on sidewalks. God had given me a peace about the job opportunity that he had made available. As I prayed, I hesitantly said, “Thank you.” It was a strange feeling to say thank you for something that not been provided, but in trusting God, I felt like that was the only appropriate response.
Throughout this job search, my friend Mike had offered to help by passing my resume along to a friend who might be in the position to help. After several days of just not getting around to it, on Tuesday, June 29, I sat down to email Mike a resume and a brief cover letter. In the midst of that, I felt in my spirit a stirring from God telling me not to send that email. I was confused. “Really, God?” I wondered. “Why?”
In that moment, God asked me, “Did you pray to me and ask me to provide for you that position at LedgersOnline?” I responded, “Uhhh, yeah.” “Do you not think I will do that,” God asked. I said, “I know that you can, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will.” God affirms, “But I have. Do not send that email.”
For the next few minutes, I just sat in my recliner processing all of that–testing against Scripture what I believed God was telling me. I found myself at place in my heart saying, “I have faith in God’s promise to provide, but is it wise to put all my eggs in this one basket? After all, where do we draw the line between having faith in God and testingGod?”
The answer is: God responds in conversation with you only after you have been in conversation with Him. His guidance will always pass when tested against Scripture. His guidance will always bring glory to Himself. His guidance will often be contrary to human wisdom, thus ensuring that He alone receives the glory.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones. ~Proverbs 3:5-8
As I sat there and witnessed God ministering to me and teaching me, I said once again, “Thank you for providing this job.” Every day from this day forward, I would continue to thank God for the job that He had assured me had been provided.
The very next day, I received a phone call from Wayne at LedgersOnline. Confidently awaiting the job offer that he had undoubtedly called to make available, I heard Wayne say, “Would you be able to come in for another interview? I would like to talk to you a little further.” Of course, I agreed. Hanging up the phone, I confessed to God that I was a bit confused, but my trust was not shaken and I held my head high waiting for this job in His timing.
On Monday, July 5, I went back to LedgersOnline for my second interview. Much like the first, there was nothing I could have done or said that could have made it go any better. Wayne told me that he had narrowed it down to three candidates and I was one of them. He said, “It’s really a matter of experienced vs. inexperienced–and there are cases to be made for each.” He acknowledge that there are some non-finance pieces of my background that could prove to be a great assett to his business. I left the interview thanking God for allowing me to work with these people.
I decided on Wednesday to get a haircut and while in the salon, Wayne called. He said, “We’re going to take a chance on an energetic, enthusiastic, young gentleman.” As one could imagine, I was very excited. I walked with God through as situation where I was completely powerless. I was literally the least exerienced candidate for the job. But in that time of weakness, God chose to show His favor, might, grace, and glory.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ~2 Corinthians 12:9-10
-Victor
What to read more of our exciting adventure with God? Visit ReachTheCity.org!
