...He was just as surprised as I, but I had no animosity toward him at all. I was just glad to see him and catch up, and I knew he was too.
So it was here at Bunnings (the very next day) that I was able to tell him about my award. It was here he told me how proud he was of me. He also shared with me his recently rekindled faith in God and how he was now going 'solidly' to church.
Being a hard-core atheist all his life, there was no one who had ridiculed God or my faith more than my Dad. I don't say that to be nasty—it's just a fact!
A 'death-bed recant' was what I was seriously hoping for. But to hear and see this happen in his life (at whatever level or stage he is currently in) was a miracle beyond what I could ever imagine.
I'll share a photo I took with him that day (at the end of this article)—just so others can see that miracles do happen. Yes—even the most hard-core atheist can come back to God! I also want to show it because it proves that God hears us, He knows the deep cries of our hearts.
How it all began
I just want to mention at this point that my entire writing expedition was a result of some timely, kind prophetic words from a dear friend. During a tough period of my life whilst living in Melbourne a few years ago, she wrote down and sent me multiple prophetic words.
For those of you aren't aware of what a prophetic word is, it is described in detail in the New Testament. I won't go into a theological discussion here, but very simply put, prophetic words are words of encouragement (either written or spoken) which we feel God is wanting to speak to someone to encourage that person/s. They are direct words of revelation given to certain person/s via the Holy Spirit for edification, growth, encouragement and direction.
It's like God speaking the future over someone and creating the future at the same time. Because he knows us, he knows the future. And if we walk by faith, we will see that spoken direction or future event come to pass.
Here is part of the prophetic word that was written to me by my friend in December 2013:
"...I don't know if you've ever done any writing before? But I feel like a time is coming when you will be writing. Blogs or columns that will share your life and deep lessons you've learned that will provoke other men's hearts to rise up into their full potential. I don't know in what way exactly yet, but I feel like you have a gift to reach people through writing."
A sequence of events
So at the time I thought, "What have I got to lose, why not give it a go?" I had always liked writing but never gave it any serious attention since school. So I started a personal blog and showed some friends.
They liked what I had to say, and showed it to others who were part of the columnist team for Christian Today Australia. The team liked my musings and invited me to join. And here I am... less than three years later having strangely won the award for Young Australian Writer of the year! It astounds and humbles me no end!
This sequence of events is a clear and poignant example of the gift of prophecy in action. It is also a testament to the accuracy of that person's sensitivity to the Spirit of God. They acted in faith, took a risk and shared what they believed to be on God's heart for someone else (me).
It takes two to tango
The results also required simple obedience on my part. Had I not gone in the direction God was leading me, had I let those words sit, waiting for the magical moment to happen automatically—it never would have come to pass. Faith, obedience and action are needed to make prophetic words a reality.
Seasons change, and we come into ever widening and deepening circles and cycles of truth, brokenness and healing. These last few months have been tough for me – but yet another testimony that God is faithful, even when we are barely holding on. At the time, I was shocked I even won the award—I had felt so drained and honestly felt I had little to offer anyone at all. But even in those times, God still somehow chooses to choose us, to bless us and show us off for his glory.
If I hadn't stuck at it when life got hard, if I hadn't kept doing the right thing—no matter what, I never would have had the experiences and the subsequent subject matter in which to write my articles. In turn, I never would have won my award.
Therefore, I never would have been out spending my winnings that day and never would have bumped into my father who I was yearning to reconnect with, and tell him about said award... Strange huh? But God is strange at times.
I hope this simple tale will be a reminder to anyone listening: The road you are walking may be hard, life may be agony right now and everything in you may be screaming to pack it all in and give up, but keep going—even if you don't see the point of it yet.
Small things which you might think are of little consequence (either earthly or eternal)—keep doing them, because those 'small' things are not small, they are indeed huge and they are what turn the soil in which true fruit is grown.
'He who is faithful in very little is he who is also faithful in much.'
Luke chapter 16, verse 10a
Tim Everton is a youth worker and designer from the beautiful Southern Coast of South Australia. He is currently studying a diploma of counselling and in his off-time he pursues all manner of creative design, the beach and seeking out his next cafe latte.
Tim Everton's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/tim-everton.html