Rooted & Rising: Growth from the Greenhouse

About Trusting God at the Crossroads

• E's Greenhouse • Season 1 • Episode 1

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Nancy Williams shares her journey of trusting God after losing her counseling internship for standing by her beliefs, leading to an unexpected blessing when she immediately found her own office space. 

• Facing multiple family deaths and an unwanted move in her early 40s created a challenging season of grief
• Pursued a master's degree in counseling to better equip herself for speaking at women's conferences
• Lost her internship when she refused to compromise her beliefs on a work assignment
• Signed a lease on an empty office the same day without consulting anyone
• Husband immediately offered furniture from their home to help set up her practice
• Ministers in the community started referring clients within days of opening
• Parenting adult children requires transparency about our own struggles while maintaining healthy boundaries
• Taking care of ourselves spiritually, physically and emotionally allows us to be better supports for our children
• Through life's challenges, God sometimes shows the whole path and sometimes just the next step
• Trusting God doesn't guarantee a trouble-free life but ensures His presence through every circumstance

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6


Denise Jackson:

So, yay, we're sitting down finally to have this podcast, but this is not an abnormal thing for you and I. We've been sitting down having visits for a long time. This is Nancy Williams. I'm Denise Jackson. I'm so glad you joined us today.

Denise Jackson:

We want you to know that we tell our stories because we want you to be built up in your faith, for you to know that God will work on your behalf. He's not a respecter of persons. He will take care of you and love you, just as he's done for us, and so we hope these stories that we share with you will do that for you. They will build you up in the inner man and that you will have faith in the times that you have to go through we all have to go through in our lives, trusting only the Father that loves us in Jesus' name. Okay, so today we're going to talk about a time in your life that really required you to trust God and just hang on right, and it was a kind of big change. So before we even start talking about that, let's talk about, like, what you were doing, where you were. What was that time period like?

Nancy Williams:

I mean, you pick a day and that's what was going on. For me that day is having to trust God and step out, knowing and believing that he was going to be there with me and walk alongside me and guide me, whether I knew the route or was completely unknown. But I can think of a particular time that I'll share with you today.

Denise Jackson:

And.

Nancy Williams:

I was in my mid-40s and early 40s and I had gone through a season or we had, as a family, of some significant loss. We had deaths of multiple family members. We had moved our family from one community to another and it really wasn't a move of our choosing, it was because of the job transfer. So it was a challenging time and a difficult time and we were adjusting and God was faithful to guide us through and care for us, got my kids into a good school as they were finishing up high school.

Denise Jackson:

High school. How old were they when?

Nancy Williams:

you made that move. They were fifth grade and seventh grade so moving into middle school. So a few years into that, as we were in that community and dealing with all these losses, I came to a place where I felt like God was going to open up a new season in my life, and I didn't know quite what that was. I had left some responsibilities and opportunities and accomplishments in the community where I'd been. So I was at this place where I thought God had some open doors coming, but I didn't know what they were.

Denise Jackson:

Were you hungry for something new? At that point, I was.

Nancy Williams:

And I think part of it was just looking at how to move past the or how to cope with the grief that I was dealing with, because you don't get over grieving grieving, you just learn to live with those losses. And I think, as I was learning to do that, there was a hunger in me for more and I thought, god, you've given me skills and you've given me abilities and you've given me experiences. What do you want me to do with those? And I felt like I had these things within me that I needed to find a place to use. And so, through a season of events and conversations with people, I ended up seeking out a degree in counseling.

Nancy Williams:

I already had a teaching certificate. I taught school. I had done a number of things professionally, but I thought getting this master's degree in counseling would better equip me to speak. I was doing conferences and retreats for women. I thought this was going to better equip me to be that speaker and writer that I believe God is calling me to share my story and share encouragement with others. That was wisdom.

Nancy Williams:

So I followed that path and I got that degree and stepped into an internship role and it was in that internship role I was feeling like I was on the cusp. I thought, you know, I'm about to step through this door and God's been preparing me and that was exciting and I felt like I was on this adventure, you know where is he taking me now?

Denise Jackson:

We love those adventures, right?

Nancy Williams:

And I knew that the doors were going to be wide open because it wasn't pigeonholed into one place. So, as I was doing my internship at a place, I was put in a position where I was asked to do something that I felt was compromising beliefs for me and I didn't feel comfortable with it.

Nancy Williams:

But that challenge was pressing in on me and I was told you know, you're our employee and we're asking you to do this and basically, if you want to keep your job, this is what you'll do. And you know, I prayed about that. I talked with my husband about that and I just didn't have a piece that that's was something I was to do. So I told them I was sorry but I couldn't. And they said well, you know, we're sorry, you've made that choice, it's been wonderful having you and we'll get the security guard to help you pack up your things and we'll escort you out. This afternoon and all of a sudden it was like whoa, yes, I just lost a paid internship and fortunately, I had all my hours to get my license. So I wasn't worried about that. But I thought what do I do now?

Denise Jackson:

so, so so right there, yeah, that's. Those are the moments when you felt like god led you to get your masters right.

Nancy Williams:

You went to get your internship hours, you think you're on the right path and you're excited and all of a sudden it feels like the rug has been pulled out from under you it did, because that doors not just gently shut, it slams shut and it's terrible having somebody leave you to ask you to leave.

Denise Jackson:

I mean, that's like a very it hurts us, it did.

Nancy Williams:

I you know, on one level I felt failure, disappointment, maybe disappointment've you know, on one level I felt um failure or disappointment, maybe disappointment, although you know god enforced me, you were standing up for what you believe I want for you, so that's not failure you know so um, there, we were walking through those pieces too.

Nancy Williams:

there was a building nearby that had some office space and I knew some therapists that were in that building working and they were always telling me Nancy, when you're ready, we want you to come and work side-by-side with us. So I went into that building and I thought well, I wonder what's there. I've got all my stuff in my car, what am I going to do? So I went and there was this little office available and I went in and this little office available. And I went in and they said if you take it today, it can be yours and I thought, okay, so there I was signing a piece of paper.

Denise Jackson:

Did you talk to someone before it?

Nancy Williams:

No, oh my gosh, I just said I just felt like okay, god, is this an open? Door and I thought well, I'll sign it and, if I can, I'll say whoops, I'm sorry I can't do this and you know we can make mistakes, right?

Denise Jackson:

That's the thing. You could have signed that and then found out okay, this is not the right thing, and even then, God would have been with you.

Nancy Williams:

So I walked into that office and I remember, I can remember as if it was yesterday I stood in the middle of that little office not a stitch of furniture in it thinking first of all, oh my gosh, what am I doing? And then just took a deep breath and I said, okay, god, I don't know what just happened at that other place, but that door just slammed shut. But I believe I was standing for what you've taught me all my life to be a right thing. So I don't apologize for that. And you let it happen for a reason. I trust you to know that you don't let things just happen randomly in my life ever. So that had to be on purpose. And now, here I am in this place, with nothing around me and a commitment I've made, and and yet I don't feel a fear, I feel a peace.

Nancy Williams:

So God tell me, confirm with me. Is this what I'm supposed to be doing? If not, then tell me to go outside, tear up that piece of paper, go home and just wait on you. But instead he just whispered to my heart and said I brought you here for a purpose. Now, do you trust me? And I said, of course I trust you, god, I always trust you. Then I have a plan for you. Oh, he took me to that verse, for I know the plans I have for you. You know plans to prosper you, to give you a future and a hope. Are you willing to trust me and step out and see where I take you?

Denise Jackson:

That's a great story because for a couple of reasons First of all, because of what was before and what came after, but also because you didn't even have to wait. My story's like that I had to wait a while I had to hold on, but that one was such a good story because he did it right away.

Nancy Williams:

He did, and I've had lots of times where he said, just be still and wait.

Denise Jackson:

Oh, my gosh, and he knows that is not easy for me to be still no. But this time things just went about so fast and probably because you really stepped out there with your faith, in a situation that you could have just acquiesced and he still would have cared for you in that situation, right but because you were willing to stand for what you believe, my gosh he moved.

Nancy Williams:

That's awesome he did and he confirmed me what to me in that afternoon. This is where I want you to be. I've saved this little office, because how it came in available would a story in and of itself, you know, and it was one space in that building where I hoped someday I would end up. One space, just the right size, just an affordable amount, the perfect place. And then, just because God is so gracious in his blessings, I went home that night and I told my husband all that had happened and he knew the struggle, the challenge that I was facing at work.

Nancy Williams:

So he was not surprised that I. He knew I was going to stand my ground. So he was half expecting that to happen, maybe not quite so abruptly, but we were expecting a change. And he was a very godly man, and so he trusted in God, as did I, and he said, said, well then, god, something got something else in store about the office and his first response was to look around the room and say, okay, we'll take those two chairs and we'll take this table and we'll get this desk and he was ready to load up the car that night.

Nancy Williams:

Take the office furniture there and set me up.

Denise Jackson:

I love that.

Nancy Williams:

I love that. And so God was confirming in his heart just like in mine hey sell it at Etsy.

Denise Jackson:

I got you, I got this and it took you on a journey that has blessed so many people and continues to to this day. You still counsel, coach, you still write, and you've written books that are published, and you do workshops and you speak to groups of women and encourage them. Plus, you live in our little community and bless just your friends, even though none of us pay you for it.

Nancy Williams:

We abuse you often as somebody that really understands how to walk us through some hard times, and it's helped you through the hard time you've walked through recently too Well you know, sometimes God, I think, shines a light down a path and says Okay, here's where I'm taking you, nancy, and see this ahead, here's where we're going, here's how we're going to get there. And I roll up my sleeves and go Okay.

Denise Jackson:

I'm good to go. We've got a plan. I love having a plan.

Nancy Williams:

I love having plans and sometimes he shines that light and just says take a step right there and just wait on me for the next step. And sometimes he just says just be still. Yes, we're going to go down a path, but not right at this moment, but will you just be still and wait on me and I'll shine the light where I want you to go? So he's given me all those experiences, but each is a challenge, because sometimes I see that path and go oh god, you know, that's kind of far and big and steep and rocky and rough and I have a lot of curves and bends and I don't know that I can do that. And then other times it's god, I'm still waiting and you haven't shined the light yet on the next step. When is the next step?

Denise Jackson:

so so the book that you wrote um raising, you're gonna say the title but raising your adults secrets to parenting your adult children which I, I love the book and uh, but it was written when your adult children were just young adults, right? So, over the years, have you what? What things come to mind as you think about that book and you think about the rest of the years and and do you have a piece of advice that you could pass on to your? Just maybe one piece of advice today and we'll save some for um future.

Denise Jackson:

But I but I think that you know, when you were talking about praying and god saying wait, I feel like that's most evident in my life with my children, because it's very hard to wait when we see our children going through things where they struggle and they hurt and all of us face that, true. So I think that's like, if you have one piece of advice to offer, you're offering it to me, but also there's probably a lot of other women out there that would really appreciate that advice. Gosh, what would you tell yourself right now?

Nancy Williams:

I think well, because my children are facing some challenges, even though I did write that book when my kids were in their 20s, maybe 30. I now see that I think what God has taught me most is I need to take care of myself spiritually, physically, emotionally so I can be the best support to them. You know, you use the example that's so common about how they teach you when you're on an airline flight, if an oxygen mask drops down, put yours on and then tend to your children, because if you're not healthy, if you're not taking care of yourself, you're not of a lot of value to them. Nor are you a good example to them. If I'm not praying, if I'm not seeking God's direction, how can I tell my kids to do that?

Denise Jackson:

Praise God, that's good If I need to be strong that's right.

Nancy Williams:

My kids know that. I mean they know me well and they can sense I can say, oh, I'm fine. And they look at me like mom, you are lying.

Denise Jackson:

Well.

Nancy Williams:

I'm a liar, maybe I'm just exaggerating a little bit, but I don't want you to worry about me.

Denise Jackson:

Right, we always say to them you have your own things that you have to deal with. I don't want you worrying about me, but it does affect us, and so when we get back in touch with where we need to be sitting at the feet of Jesus, sitting at the feet of our Father, listening we do better, we do better and then we're able to share out of that.

Nancy Williams:

I had a conversation with my son just last night and God just opened the door unexpectedly for us to be able to talk for a few minutes and I shared with him a struggle I was having and how I was praying that through and really wrestling with God about that, and so I think, out of my being able to do that, then I can share it with him, not just giving him a lecture here's what you're supposed to do but to say here's what I'm learning is helpful for me and here's what's getting in the way for me and here's what God's teaching me. So I think the more we can, grow.

Denise Jackson:

And be transparent with our children about our lives. It doesn't mean you air out all your dirty laundry.

Nancy Williams:

But if you're drawn close to God and asking God to give you wisdom as a parent, god will show you what to share and when and how to share it in a way that then God can use it and it doesn't create more stress. I mean, if I tell my kids I am falling apart, I mean my husband died three years ago and in some days it feels like he died 30 minutes ago and I so if I just tell my kids I am falling apart, well, my two sons are protective of me, especially since their dad died. Now they're worried about me. That's not productive. No, but if I say to my kids you know, I've been really struggling a lot with missing your dad and here's how I'm coping, you know, and here's how God's helping me, then it becomes transparent in a way that can help them.

Denise Jackson:

That's right and encourage them Because you're giving them positive steps to take to get better in their own lives with their own issues. And the other thing that we can do and it doesn't require us to speak to them is to pray, and we both I know you do, because we pray together often for our children. But God's word has promises about our children and so you know we can talk to them and we can be transparent in where we're weak, and I do think that really impacts them.

Nancy Williams:

Well, the example I used earlier about having to stand up and stand strong in the face of some opposition because I knew I was standing on God's word when I was, yeah, is an example to share with them and then to say, I stepped out and trusted where I thought God was leading. You know, sometimes God, as I said, shows us, and sometimes I just say okay, god, I'm not sure where you're leading, so I'm going to step out here. If it it's not the right place, then shut the door, that's right.

Nancy Williams:

That's what I say too. Well, it's because he said that Right, by the way, and so he'll shut the door and lead us and say, nope, that's not it, and he'll take us over there. He's not going to let us fall when we're trying to do things according to what he wants.

Denise Jackson:

He's right there to hear this and say he says okay, let me show you right I'll guide you.

Nancy Williams:

And which is what he did that day in that little empty office you know, and then because I said, okay, I'm not sure how all this is going to flow and I'm a new therapist who's even going to come see me and my husband took care of the furniture. Well, that was good, but how we were going to rent was another story.

Nancy Williams:

But you know how God in his, in his blessing, to say do you trust me? And I'm looking in the empty office saying, god, I do trust you and I trust you're going to bring people. It wasn't a day or two later I got calls from two ministers in that community where this new little office was. One was a hospital chaplain, the other was a minister saying we heard that you've opened up a practice. We are so appreciative of how you work with the people. We've sent to you in your internship. We want to send people to you and people started calling.

Denise Jackson:

And it was just gone, and that's it. He's promised we will have favor with him I mean with men because we have favor with him and because you stepped out on that ledge. Really it was a ledge in both ways. Signing the rent, I did the same thing. It's so funny, as we share our stories with each other, when I hear that, that I'm like, oh my gosh, I did that with the Daycare Center. We were both crazy. Thank God, we had you. Thank God, we had you, lord, because you were there to just establish us. We thought we knew and heard your voice and we stepped out.

Denise Jackson:

And really, I guess I want to say on this conversation as we draw to an end never in my life have I been in a situation where I stepped out and fell headlong. Sometimes I stumbled a little bit, sometimes I had to go through some things. Just like Nancy, I would get out there and go, ok, now what, now what? I'm here and I don't know what to do next and kind of I'm in that situation again with this website and all the things that I'm doing, but God has never let me fall headlong. And so what do you want to close our conversation with? That maybe will help our girls. Just be strong.

Nancy Williams:

I would love to tell you so. I opened that office. People came flooding in and I lived happily ever after, however, there have been some stumbling blocks, there have been some challenges. There's been multiple life changes. There's been more grief and loss in my life, but yet each way there have been times that I've stumbled. Each step of the way, god has assured me that he's with me. Sometimes he's picked me up and had to nurse my wounds and sometimes he's been the encouraging voice in my heart telling me just trust on me. So the thing I think I would most leave with you is a verse that I lean on in my life Proverbs 3, 5 and 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and I like to say, don't be limited by it says lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path.

Denise Jackson:

Praise God. Okay well, thank you, Nancy, for sitting down with me. I hope you're going to sit down with me often and share wisdom. You know wisdom comes from living life, from walking through the earth, and so come back again, and we're so glad you joined us today.

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