A Story of God Working

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A Norvell Note

A Story of God Working

Sometimes God works like this.

Easter 2018: I am confused and somewhat discouraged, growing tired of waiting. It’s been eighteen months since I left full-time ministry. These months have been extremely slow and quiet as I’ve searched for work that felt like the Lord’s calling. To get by in the meantime, I’ve dabbled in teaching, counseling, retail work, and some time with a driving service.

These months have been long, sometimes lonely, sometimes dark, and sometimes filled with deep despair. I wondered what God was doing. I always knew He was working for my good, but I didn’t understand what He was doing. I often prayed, actually begged for Him to reveal His plan. We had many one-sided conversations.

But through His word and the silence, I was constantly reminded: “I am here, Tom. I have this. I have you.” I trusted Him and knew He was trustworthy…but it was a difficult eighteen months.

My family and I often talked about moving closer to where our daughter and her family live (with another little one on the way). I remember saying to my wife, “Let just sell our place, pack up our things and go.” She politely responded with something to the effect of, “Well, it’s an idea.”

On April 5, I received a call from a close friend telling me about a ministry opportunity in a city we love. But it wasn’t close to our daughter. The job description had my name all over it. This was the kind of ministry I had been looking for.

The story continues.

April 18: I discover I have a torn retina.

April 19: I have the torn retina laser repaired, which delayed my telephone interview for the ministry position by one day.

April 20: I have the telephone interview with the director of the ministry. My mind exploded with possibilities.

Later that afternoon, our home phone rings. The only calls we ever get on that phone are from solicitors telling me they can help with my credit card debt, or reduce my student loans, or announcing we’ve won an all-expense paid trip to...

Expecting this to be a similar call, I answered with a gruff, somewhat annoyed voice: “Who is this?” He told me. “But how did you get this number?” I asked. “It was on your application.” He politely responded. I responded with confusion, “I never give this number out. I don’t even know what it is, to be honest.”

The next thing I knew, I had a Skype interview set for the following Monday with Harbor Hospice in Austin, Texas. Our daughter lives just south of Austin (check out The Thatcher Buda).

April 22: Our granddaughter is born in Buda, Texas.

April 23: My plane lands in Austin, Texas. Within an hour, I’m holding my granddaughter, Juniper Blue.

An hour later, I get a call from the from the Supervisor confirming the Skype interview. “I’ll be ready. In fact, I’m in Texas now.” “Oh really,” he said, “then let’s meet in person.” We meet later that afternoon. Two days later, I receive a call requesting a second interview.

April 27: I have a very positive second interview.

April 28: I fly home.

April 30: I drive to the city to interview for the previously mentioned position. I have lunch with a friend, and then go to my favorite coffee shop to ponder all that is going on. A call comes from Harbor Hospice in Austin, Texas with an offer.

I accept two days later.

May 11: We put our condo up for sale. Within in forty-eight hours, we receive a cash offer. We close on May 31.

I begin work on June 4.

Oh, I failed to mention, as all of this is happening, my publisher and I were putting the final touches on my book, Until Hope Returns, to be released within the next few weeks. (details to come)

Why do I share all of this? Because sometimes God works like this. We wait. We wonder. We pray. We beg. We wait some more. Then the silence ends, and God reveals what He has been up to.

Are you waiting for things to work out? Don’t give up. God is already at work. He has your back. In His time, He will reveal His plan. And when He does, it will likely be better than you could have imagined.