Many years ago a dear friend said to me, “One day, out of the blue, the Lord is going to bless you.” Since then I have been waiting and expecting my “out of the blue” blessing. I have received many wonderful blessings through the years but I knew that they were not “out of the blue.” I have continued to believe that in God’s timing I would.
“Out of the blue” refers to the rare phenomenon of a lightning bolt that seems to come from a clear blue sky — actually from a thunder cell too distant to be seen — and it means “completely unexpected.” This month I was not hit with a lightning bolt but something completely unexpected happened. If you are interested please read on.
In 1973 I heard the call of God to become an ordained minister. I sold my business and returned to college. Following graduation I enrolled in seminary. This led to ordination and pastoral ministry. During the thirty-three years I also was an evangelist for six years. In June 2006 I took an early retirement from the pastorate and became a hospice chaplain. Was the Lord in this? I lost my job as a chaplain after three years and this was a very hard time for me. I searched for other companies that were hiring but to no avail. I applied for over thirty positions and even interviewed for several but could not find a job.
I believed that God was leading me to write a book out of this experience and I wrote, For Those in Dry Places: Hope for Ministers in the Wilderness. It was published in August 2010 and so far I have sold only fifty books. Was the Lord in this, or was it what I thought God wanted me to do? Obviously, the timing was out of sync or I missed God.
During the past year I have questioned my calling and ability to hear God’s voice. I know what it means to experience the silence of God. Promises and words of prophecy seemed empty. Many times I thought how much better it would be to just go ahead and die. Even though I had doubts and confusion there was a spark of hope deep down in my soul that God did call me and has a plan for my life.
As a pastor in counseling settings I have said to people that it is alright to be angry with God. This is especially true in the process of grieving. I have explained that God is able to take our anger and resentment. Now it was time for me to live what I said I believed. Yes, I was angry with God and began to articulate my anger and disappointments. This went on for about a month. I didn’t feel guilty or fearful for expressing these feelings. I didn’t believe God would punish or penalize me for feeling this way.
Two months ago a courier position that I had applied for came open. I have been a courier for a lab company and have appreciated the employment but my heart’s desire was to return to church ministry. I believe God used my four years in secular work for a purpose. I better understand the issues and pressures people face in the corporate world. I have found that so many sermons rarely deal with the “stuff” of life. They answer questions that no one is asking. I have gotten in touch with life as most people know it.
Then a month ago “out of the blue” I received a phone call from a senior pastor asking me to consider a position on his staff beginning June 1st. I had applied for a similar position at another church months before but did not have peace that I should pursue it. This opportunity was different, in that I had not pursued or initiated it. Each time I met with him and leaders from the church I sensed peace. I asked for time to pray about it before giving the pastor an answer. After three weeks of prayer and times of fasting I said I would accept the position. Could this be the out of the blue blessing my friend said would come? My wife and I are in agreement that this could be it!
A side note to this senario: My income will double. I will be at home most nights each week instead of being out on the road as a courier. The most important part is that I will be doing and being what the Lord called me to do. Some may call all of this coincidence or chance but I sincerely believe it has come from “out of the blue!”
