A Leap of Faith

He hated his job. Every Sunday night, he'd feel sick to his stomach. He knew he didn't want to return to the same school district the next fall, but our first baby was due in a month. We always planned for me to stay home once we added kids to our family, and were committed to it, so the sole responsibility of providing fell to him.

His principal pushed him to sign his contract for the following year. "This is how it's done. Sign the contract. If you get another job, we'll let you out of it."

But Kevin told me, "I can't do it. It's not right to sign a contract knowing you're not going to honor it."

The principal thought he was nuts. "You've got a baby on the way!"

A big part of me agreed. I wanted him to sign the stupid thing, knowing he'd at least have a job if he couldn't find another position. But I found his stance noble. And honorable. And I admired his commitment to staying true to his word. So I followed his lead, but not without fear.

He began the search immediately, looking at teaching jobs and a church position. By the time any firm offers came it was July. The church wanted to see how we clicked with youth group kids and asked us to work with them on a trial basis for three weeks. Meanwhile two schools offered jobs and needed an answer within the week. Our son was two months old and we only had another month of money coming in.

Pursuing the church job required a leap of faith--turning down two other positions without a guarantee he'd be hired. As crazy as it sounds, I don't remember feeling scared. I should have been! If my own children were faced with the same situation, I'd be a nervous wreck. I'd be pushing for the sure thing. But we felt confident we had what the church needed so we followed the Spirit's prompting, took the plunge, turned down the teaching jobs and agreed to the trial period.

We believed God had a plan, and He gave us the courage needed to carry it out. And what a plan it was--we've been at that church 21 years now, enjoying wonderful relationships and opportunities.

And yet I wonder if faced with a similar situation today if I would have the same courage. Would I be able to turn down the sure thing and trust God to work it out now? It's not that He hasn't come through. There have been other financially stressful times, of course--medical bills from a having a new baby and a child facing a serious illness in the same period, owning two houses for seven years, raising four kids on one income. As we speak I have to tell myself not to hyperventilate with two kids in college, four people on our cell phone plan, a kid in braces, and five cars and five drivers on our auto insurance. In our entire married life, we have BOTH worked full-time for only one year.

It hasn't been easy, but we've seen His hand. He's provided. He's gotten us through some bleak years. I guess it's important to remember He will give us what we need to carry out His plan. He will supply the wisdom, the discernment, the courage to help you follow whatever financial path He deems necessary.

The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

1 Thessalonians 5:24

God has been very faithful to the Boesiger bunch and He will be to you too. If He calls you to take a leap of faith, He'll give you what you need to jump.

Are you willing to trust Him with your money situation? Have you taken a leap of faith?

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