Just a week before my friend, Angela, was to give birth to twins, her husband got a call before work. They told him not to bother coming in that day. They were laying him off.
Without saying anything about it, he left the house as if he were going to work. Instead he went to a coffee shop until mid-afternoon.
“What?!” I said, when Angela relayed the story to me. “Were you hurt that he didn’t tell you right away?”
But she wasn’t. She said he hadn’t wanted to share the troubling news with her and their three little girls, until he had taken some time to reorient himself with Truth. He came home completely at peace, having rehearsed all of the ways God had provided employment and direction in the past. He was then able to comfort and lead his family through their tears, and help them to place their trust in God.
“Wasn’t that a selfless thing to do?” she said.
I could tell that she was more proud of him on that day than if he had earned a promotion. And really, from God’s perspective, he may have. God doesn’t publish the date he plans to give his evaluations. But his promotions are based on faith.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Heb. 11:6
Angela’s husband now has a new job now, and their four-month old twins are doing well. And, he was able to be home with their family the week before and two weeks after the twins were born—an added blessing his former employment wouldn’t have allotted them.
Isn’t God good?