I was about to graduate from college. I had a wife, two children, two clunky cars and lofty career expectations – but no job prospects. 

Then a church finally called! They needed an Associate, and they were interested in me. Fantastic! Over the phone, we set a date to visit and then planned our trek to Dorseyville, PA. It would be our formal audition. The pastor followed up with a letter to verify the details.

We arrived at the church building, but there was no welcoming committee.  I found the pastor in his office and introduced myself.  His smile vanished.

This did not instill me with confidence.   He sheepishly introduced himself, and then took my family to the parsonage where we would stay for the weekend.  He introduced us to his wife, and her smile vanished.

Wow!  Was it my breath?

They told us then, that we had arrived a day early and they were not prepared for us.  He had changed the arrival date in his follow-up letter to me, which I probably should have read. 

We felt like a great imposition – which we actually were.  It was a terrible start to the weekend, and yet it went downhill from there.

As I said, we were lodging at the elderly pastor’s home.  That weekend, our 18-month-old son discovered the word “no”!  “K.C we need to change your diaper” – “No!”  “Time for bed.” “No!” “Son, you need to leave all those fragile knick-knacks alone.”  “No!” 

He must have said it a thousand times.  The pastor was alarmed by the rebel in his home, and I was astonished by this new behavior and not quite sure what to do.

At breakfast the kids were served, “All Bran.”  Needless to say, how that went. 

In the evening, we joined them for family devotions.   The pastor read from, “The Upper Room” while my four-year old daughter sat on his wife’s lap tugging at the straggly hairs on the lady’s chin. 

Well, we made it back home, and eventually received a letter saying, “Sorry, we chose someone else.”  And I said to myself, “Duh!” 

I really wanted, even needed that job.  My self-esteem and my bank account were both running on empty even before our PA experience.  But I knew the Bible well enough to know that God is sovereign, that He controls all things and that He allowed the rejection because He was looking out for me and my family.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:11, “In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will.”  NETBible ®  There are several things to note here:

– First: We belong to God.  He has claimed us.  Hmm.  I value what I possess.  I have a great guitar and I spare no expense in keeping that thing in tip top shape.  God is even more meticulous and considerate about His precious possessions.  He wants only our best. 

– Second: He has a plan for us.  “We were predestined according to the purpose of His will.”  His plan is a good plan.  It is comprehensive and includes everyone and everything that might touch or affect us.

Third: He brings that plan to pass.   He is the Lord of the universe, Master of all things and people.  He makes sure that we experience His good and perfect plan. 

The Lord eventually opened a door to a ministry in Texas.  We were blessed to serve at a church where we could feel at ease – where our children could be children – and where we would be accepted and even cherished just as we were.

It was a very healthy place for us and our kids grew up loving Jesus and His church. 

This experience reminded me that sometimes things just don’t go my way, but as long as they’re going God’s way – it will be alright. 

A Prayer: Lord thank you for the frequent and sometimes uncomfortable reminders that You are sovereign.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.