Asking in Faith
Illustration
Stories
Luke frowned at the email he was writing. He moved a couple of words around and then hit the save button. He ran the email though the grammar checker and spell checker again. He took a deep breath and then started reading through it one more time. After he finished, he noticed the time. He had to send it soon or it would be too late for there to be a response before the deadline. He sighed and sat back in his chair. He wished he wasn’t so nervous.
He tapped his chin with his finger. He definitely wanted to get that position in the outreach program. He knew it was a great opportunity and he loved everything about the downtown mission. He knew most of the people there and they seemed to like his enthusiasm and excitement. The fact he volunteered there during his days off in the summer meant he was familiar with their facilities and the other programs already. He loved their work and Luke wanted to be part of what the staff hoped to do in the future. He was sure he was the right person to be the new outreach director. The problem was that he needed a letter from his pastor, a “spiritual reference”, to apply for the position.
His hesitation in asking Pastor Greg for a reference wasn’t that he never went to church, Luke grew up at First Church and his parents had taken him each Sunday. No, his hesitation was that Pastor Greg knew him from the time he was a little boy and he hadn’t been the greatest kid especially as a teenager. Granted that was years ago, but Pastor Greg seemed to remember everything and there were a couple of incidents, especially an embarrassing one involving a microphone after church, which Luke still regretted to this day. What if he sent the letter and Pastor Greg wouldn’t give him a reference? What if Pastor Greg said no and Luke didn’t get the position in the outreach program? What would he do then? Luke knew of some other places he could apply for work, but he wanted to be part of the outreach program with all of his heart.
Luke read his email over again. He thought he struck the right tone and he hoped he had explained everything. His finger hovered over the mouse button to send the email. He took his finger off the mouse. Maybe he could ask someone else? He double checked the requirements that the hiring committee sent to him. No, it was very clear it had to be from the pastor at your church who had known you at least five years. Luke sighed. If he had met Pastor Greg five years ago, he probably wouldn’t be hesitating at all. Luke hadn’t been the most faithful attender since he graduated but he still showed up most weeks and was always there for events and fund raisers.
Luke closed his eyes. “Lord, what do I do? Do I ask? What happens if he says no?” He took a couple of deep breaths and then said “Amen.” He looked at the email one more time and made no changes at all. There was nothing more he could add or change. He just needed to be sure he should send it. He clicked on his Bible app and read the passages for this coming Sunday.
He read the parable and the teaching in the gospel and thought for a moment. He had prayed about the position and believed that it was what he should do. He had no problem asking God to help him do his best in the interview that was coming up. So why was it so hard to ask one of Jesus’ followers for help? Luke’s hand reached for the mouse and he clicked send before he could think about it anymore.
He sat back in his chair again. There was only the waiting now. He started to wonder if he should have sent the email. Maybe he should have talked to Pastor Greg and got an impression of whether he would provide a reference. Maybe he should just give up his dream of working at the outreach program and start making other plans. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so - the ding on his computer made him look up. There was a reply from Pastor Greg. Luke clicked on it.
Luke, I’d be honored to be your spiritual reference. You’re the perfect person to help out the outreach program to grow. I’ll send the letter onto the hiring committee this evening. Grace and Peace, Pastor Greg.
A smile took over Luke’s face and he shouted out his excitement and joy.
He tapped his chin with his finger. He definitely wanted to get that position in the outreach program. He knew it was a great opportunity and he loved everything about the downtown mission. He knew most of the people there and they seemed to like his enthusiasm and excitement. The fact he volunteered there during his days off in the summer meant he was familiar with their facilities and the other programs already. He loved their work and Luke wanted to be part of what the staff hoped to do in the future. He was sure he was the right person to be the new outreach director. The problem was that he needed a letter from his pastor, a “spiritual reference”, to apply for the position.
His hesitation in asking Pastor Greg for a reference wasn’t that he never went to church, Luke grew up at First Church and his parents had taken him each Sunday. No, his hesitation was that Pastor Greg knew him from the time he was a little boy and he hadn’t been the greatest kid especially as a teenager. Granted that was years ago, but Pastor Greg seemed to remember everything and there were a couple of incidents, especially an embarrassing one involving a microphone after church, which Luke still regretted to this day. What if he sent the letter and Pastor Greg wouldn’t give him a reference? What if Pastor Greg said no and Luke didn’t get the position in the outreach program? What would he do then? Luke knew of some other places he could apply for work, but he wanted to be part of the outreach program with all of his heart.
Luke read his email over again. He thought he struck the right tone and he hoped he had explained everything. His finger hovered over the mouse button to send the email. He took his finger off the mouse. Maybe he could ask someone else? He double checked the requirements that the hiring committee sent to him. No, it was very clear it had to be from the pastor at your church who had known you at least five years. Luke sighed. If he had met Pastor Greg five years ago, he probably wouldn’t be hesitating at all. Luke hadn’t been the most faithful attender since he graduated but he still showed up most weeks and was always there for events and fund raisers.
Luke closed his eyes. “Lord, what do I do? Do I ask? What happens if he says no?” He took a couple of deep breaths and then said “Amen.” He looked at the email one more time and made no changes at all. There was nothing more he could add or change. He just needed to be sure he should send it. He clicked on his Bible app and read the passages for this coming Sunday.
He read the parable and the teaching in the gospel and thought for a moment. He had prayed about the position and believed that it was what he should do. He had no problem asking God to help him do his best in the interview that was coming up. So why was it so hard to ask one of Jesus’ followers for help? Luke’s hand reached for the mouse and he clicked send before he could think about it anymore.
He sat back in his chair again. There was only the waiting now. He started to wonder if he should have sent the email. Maybe he should have talked to Pastor Greg and got an impression of whether he would provide a reference. Maybe he should just give up his dream of working at the outreach program and start making other plans. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so - the ding on his computer made him look up. There was a reply from Pastor Greg. Luke clicked on it.
Luke, I’d be honored to be your spiritual reference. You’re the perfect person to help out the outreach program to grow. I’ll send the letter onto the hiring committee this evening. Grace and Peace, Pastor Greg.
A smile took over Luke’s face and he shouted out his excitement and joy.
