What's next?

I am putting my blog on "hold" for a little while. My wife and I are in a real transition period right now, and blogging doesn't seem to be a real high priority when there are many other pursuits that need my attention right now.?

Within three days my wife quit her job babysitting two children from our church five days a week, we decided to leave our church to try and find one that would be a better "fit" for us in the long run (you may have noticed I'm a little radical in my beliefs!), and I was notified that I will be laid off as of April 7th. Any one of the three would have been life-changing enough, but God has been pleased to bring all three to pass at once.

So far we have been able to rejoice at this opportunity to see our faith tested, to learn obedience even when there's a cost involved, and we are confident we will look back on this period in our lives and praise God for the wonderful ways he blessed us through trials and testing of our faith.

Let me elaborate. I run my mouth all the time about how sovereign God is, how his purposes cannot be thwarted, and how he is supremely in control of his universe. Now I have a chance to live that way, too.?What good is it to say that God is in control and then to panic when a job is taken away? Amanda and I have greatly been encouraged by the faith God is working in us by his Spirit, and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. How can we know if we have genuine faith if it is never tested? Indeed, this is a time for rejoicing because we are all the more convinced of the certainty of our calling and election.

One temptation now is for us to rethink our decision to not watch the two kids Amanda takes care of so that we would still have that income to count on. Again, Amanda and I have been bold in proclaiming that God's word says a wife should love her husband and children, working at home managing her household (Titus 2:3-5), even if it seems like she can't afford to stay home. We have told people that God will richly bless an obedient heart, and that there may be sacrifices but God promises to provide for his children according to the abundance of his grace. So again we have an opportunity to practice what we preach. This decision was made based on principle, and we show ourselves to be idolaters if we believe in a god that won't do what he has promised to do. If God feeds birds that do not sow or reap or store their food in their barns, how much more will he provide us with food to eat? If God clothes the grass of the field with beautiful lilies, how much more will he provide us with clothing and shelter? Indeed, our heavenly Father knows what we need. Let the unbeliever worry about what to eat, what to drink, and what to wear. We will seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and let him provide according to his wisdom, power, and love (Matthew 6:25-34).

God may choose to provide for us in a way that teaches us humility. He may require us to humble ourselves and ask for help from people who love us, something that I am not very good at. He could choose to teach us to be more content with what we have or to be able to do without many of the conveniences we now take for granted. He could choose to refine our character by letting things get "real bad" before he rushes into the scene as the heroic savior, in much the same way as he did through much of the Old Testament history of his people.

I won't even begin to touch the "issues" that led to us deciding to leave our church to find another one that fits us better. Maybe later…

Here's where the unemployed Calvinist really shows what he's worth… I know that God is sovereign, but I also know that I am called to live my life as a responsible, devoted servant of God. I know he has a job in store for me, but he's not going to send someone to my door to offer the job without an application or an interview. God is sovereign and he governs his universe providentially, but he does so through secondary and tertiary causes. This is what Luther referred to as "the mask of God." When I submit my resume to a company and their HR director reads it, we are both doing what we are supposed to do, and God also is acting sovereignly "behind the scenes." When I get an interview and/or a job offer, I will know that it is because of God's wonderful provision, but he will most likely work his will through normal, ordinary means. I may be able to do what the Puritans called "reading the providence of God" and see his provision in an obvious and unexplainable way. Or, I may get a job because I sent my resume to a company for a position I found on Monster.com, just like a bazillion other people do every day. Either way, I know that God is providentially in control of his universe. I am not looking for a "God Moment" because I know I am right in the middle of a "God History" composed of moments that have been directly and profoundly decreed according to the "God-ness" of God.

So, if you'll excuse me, it may be awhile before I post anything new. I expect that this season in my life will be rather busy. Feel free to pray for us, or to refer me to anyone you know of that may be hiring.

You can find a copy of my resume at www.mikewittmann.com. Thanks!