June 2009...A company in Pensacola had received Toby's resume and was anxious to interview him. While we were excited about the possibility of an engineering job, we were reluctant to walk away from the pastor internship. After all, God told Toby to work in a church and that's a "church job"...right?
After Toby's interview with the executive pastor we left excited about the position...on paper. We had a few questions regarding the job, but were unable to make contact with this pastor for nearly a month. We weren't able to put our finger on it, but there was just something not quite right about that job. We never got a peace that this was what we were suppose to do. So we waited, some more...
In my gut, I felt guilty about entertaining the idea of an engineering job. It would certainly mean more money than a minimum wage internship, and I couldn't get past that. Somewhere in my churchy upbringing, I equated serving the Lord with poverty. While I firmly believe that God will meet our needs and He will never call me to something and not provide what I need, it took me a while to see past this. One day while I was spending time with Jesus, I asked Him about the engineering job and related salary. Because He knows me so well, there was no need to explain my guilt or thought process...He already knew all that. He simply told me, "Accept this gift." Huh? What gift? There had been no other job offer or even interviews for that fact. What gift are you talking about? "For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills...For the world is Mine, and all it contains." Psalm 50:10,12
We were not thrilled about a two hour commute, but we still headed to Pensacola to entertain an interview. After months of waiting, it was the only other option we had out there. On Wednesday, the day before we left for Pensacola, Toby received a call from his recruiter with great news...there was a company in Mobile that wanted to interview him as well. By lunchtime, he had completed an hour long phone interview with the company...wow, that was fast! That evening we had dinner with our pastor and his wife. They are the most humble and loving people, and we are so grateful for their hospitality, friendship and leadership. Knowing that they had been in the ministry for several decades, we were anxious for their counsel on the predicament we found ourselves in. After five months of waiting and unknowns, we now had a church internship offer on the table, an engineering interview pending, and interest from another company. When Toby shared the details of the internship, our uneasiness about it, and God's command to "work in a church," our pastor frankly replied, "Oh yeah, I've got tons of those things I haven't done yet. Just because He tells you to do something, doesn't mean He wants you to do it right now. The timing needs to be right." As we heard those words, a clear understanding and a peace came over both of us. Just because there was a church job out there, doesn't necessarily mean this is the time to take it. It is okay to walk away from it. This understanding was so freeing. This council coupled with God's words to me about some "gift" gave us the assurance to pursue the engineering jobs with confidence. Working in a church would come in a later season.
On Thursday morning we headed south, destined for Pensacola. Within an hour into our trip, we received another call from the recruiter. The Mobile company was so impressed with Toby's phone interview that they wanted him to come in for a plant interview...on Monday. After five months of nothing, this company was moving at lightning speeds! Toby interviewed in Pensacola on Friday and they were clearly impressed with his knowledge and experience. Despite their excitement to hire him, they had three positions open and Toby was the first to interview...it would be at least three weeks before we heard anything.
On Monday morning, Toby headed to the Mobile company for an interview. We had made the trip from our little house to the Mobile plant. The Mobile job would require a 25 minute commute...a huge plus in comparison to Pensacola's hour + commute. Toby really liked the work environment and company organization and they seemed to be equally impressed with him. He finished his interview and we left Mobile around 11:30 Monday morning, heading for Knoxville. Within an hour, we received another call...the Mobile company wanted Toby back on Friday for another interview. What?!? Our heads were spinning at the speed this company was moving. The recruiter relayed that this company loved Toby and this next interview was to simply "seal the deal" and "convince him that this was where he should work." Given this information and the close proximity to our house, we knew that this is where we were suppose to be...the coming days and weeks would simply be formality.
To make a long story short (well, shorter...I know it's still long) Toby interviewed again that Friday and was utterly convinced this is where he was suppose to work. The people were wonderful, he had great chemistry with his would-be coworkers, and we had heard wonderful things about this company. The next Friday we received a job offer and after praying over the weekend, we accepted it on Monday. The offer included less hours than he was currently working and "full relocation." It wasn't until a few days later when we received the relocation packet did we fully understand what a gift this was. "Full relocation" includes: movers to pack, move and unpack our belongings, temporary housing in Mobile, payment of closing costs associated with the sale of our TN house, and if the house didn't sell within a given time period, the company would purchase it from us. I sat back in utter amazement. Now, I understood what "gift" Jesus was talking about.
In one fell swoop He tackled every single mountain we faced...income in Mobile, selling the TN house, and health insurance. He even put us in the financial position for me to continue to stay home with Haley and have more children...the greatest desire of my heart! The only thing left was tuition money. Because we knew we would get the equity out of our TN house soon, we were thrilled to be able to use that for Toby's tuition. Isn't that amazing?!?
But wait...it gets better. Our God is a God of abundance! I had just pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot when Toby called me after his first conversation with our relocation specialist. It turns out that instead of putting us up in temporary housing in the new location, this company's policy is to pay the employee a lump sum and allow them to make their own housing arrangements. Well, it just so happens that we already have a house in Mobile, and since we're more than happy to camp out on blow up mattresses for a few weeks, we can keep the funds and use them at our discretion. In addition, the employee is paid another lump sum for miscellaneous moving expenses. When we did the math and added these two payments with a generous gift from some TN friends, God had handed us, in cash, the funds to cover Toby's tuition. And not just a semester or two...his entire degree! We were perfectly willing, and excited to use the equity in our house to cover this, but sweet Jesus went above and beyond, and slathered some icing on top! I was literally speechless at this news. This came out of left field and caught me completely off guard.
One of the thousand lessons we've learned over the last six months is that God doesn't do anything half way or 'good enough.' When we get out of the way, take our hands out of the pot and wait for His timing, He will do AMAZING things! Things that are so incredible that only He can take the credit! At the beginning of this journey, we would have never expected, or even asked for the indescribable gifts we would end up with.
Through this entire process, Toby and I were committed to the highest level of integrity. Toby informed his company of our detour in March, knowing full well they may escort him out that day and we would be left with two mortgages and no income. The Lord granted him favor and they offered for him to stay employed for as long as he needed. When Toby interviewed for jobs in Mobile and Pensacola, he always shared our calling and plans for school and ministry. This could have cost us a job opportunity, revealing that he would likely pursue other career paths in the future. But these were the facts and we felt to not be upfront and honest would be deceptive and this was not the image we wanted to portray of our Jesus. I truly feel that God honored this integrity through this process (Ps 25:21; Ps 26:1, 11).
"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord." Isaiah 55:8
The climax of this journey is no where near where I thought it would be. Left on our own, we would have likely taken that first offer on our house, walked away with far less equity and possibly missed this incredible job offer.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Remember when that neighboring house sold? I was so angry and confused, because ours was priced lower! Jesus asked me then, "Do you trust me?" I know now that if this new company buys our house, it will be based on appraisals...and what factors into appraisal values? That's right...recent home sales. While I saw that house selling as failure of God to provide, He was working all things for my good!
"Your Father sees what is done in secret and will reward you." Matthew 6:4
Remember our realtor who obediently stepped out and offered to list our house without earning a commission? After five months of sitting on the market, under this new arrangement she will receive a commission when this house sells! Don't you see? Our obedience is not just for my benefit...He is abundant in His blessings.
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11
The blessings and lessons He gave us over this season are beyond measure. Most importantly we learned how to hear His voice more clearly and wait for Him. The take away - hold on for His timing! Even when it doesn't seem like things make sense or He has forgotten about your despair...He has not forgotten...He's simply working in His ways and His timing. His way will always be worth the wait!
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