If you haven’t read the first article in this series, you should read it here: 🔗The Miracle of White Glove
Last time in our "Tales from Dorm Room" series, I told the story of my first semester at Pensacola Christian College and how God taught me valuable lessons about the power of prayer. This second chapter continues where the previous left off.
Time Marches On
After White Glove had come and gone, life returned to normal. I shared the story with all my dinner friends, and they probably wouldn’t have believed me, if not for Brandon, one of the three who had prayed for the miracle who also happened to be part of our group. Anyone passing by might have thought we were crazy with how excited we sounded recounting the tale.
But as with all things, time marches on, and what once felt so significant gradually faded into the background. The semester pressed forward, there were books to read, papers to write, and tests to take. Life continued on as before, with one notable exception: I found myself thinking often about the Miracle of White Glove. More than anything, I longed for a relationship with God that would allow me to experience and share such incredible moments with others. Times when God unmistakably showed up in my life.
A Miscalculated Nap
During freshman year, classes weren’t particularly difficult. When I started at PCC, I tested out of math, but I still had to take at least one math course to fulfill my graduation requirements. I had two options: the difficult route, Calculus, or the easier path, Math for Liberal Arts, which was a class designed for those who struggled with basic math concepts. Since I had already taken calculus in high school, I figured I’d go for the easy class to boost my GPA. I wanted a nice easy coast through it, so I decided I’d just play along and pretend to struggle a bit so no one would feel awkward about me being there. As expected, Math for Liberal Arts was a breeze. The material wasn’t an issue, but the early morning hour it took place in? That was a whole different challenge.
Toward the end of the semester, we had the third of our four math tests. The night before, my roommates had kept me up with their usual noise and antics, most of which involved flailing around nunchucks for reasons that are still unknown. Needless to say, I was exhausted.
As the test began, I glanced down at the paper and saw it was primarily simple long division. Easy stuff, nothing to stress about. I started working through the problems, knocking out two or three without trouble. Then, suddenly, my head dropped, and without any warning, I drifted into what felt like the deepest and longest sleep of my entire life.
When I awoke, I found myself in a predicament. Glancing around, I saw everyone still working on their tests. How long was I out? I wondered. Did anyone notice?
My first instinct was to check the clock to see how much time I had left, but there was a problem. The classroom clock was broken, so there was no way to know how much time had remained before the test was due.
Panic set in. The bell could ring at any second, and I’d have to turn in a half-finished test! I can’t afford a bad grade in a class this easy! The whole point of this class is to boost my GPA!
I considered looking around to gauge how many students were still working, but there was an issue. Since my last name starts with a B, I was seated in the second row, right under the teacher’s ever-watching eye. Any attempt to glance around would have earned me an immediate lecture about attempting to cheat.
With no other options, I gripped my pencil and dove right back into the test, racing through the problems as fast as I could.
Before long, I finished the last problem and walked forward to the front of the class to hand in my test. My hands were shaking, sweat clinging to my forehead, but I had done it—I’d finished on time.
As I handed the paper to the teacher, she smiled and said, “Congratulations on the test, Zachary.”
I blinked, puzzled. But before I could respond, she explained, “You’re the first one done!”
I turned around slowly to see the entire class staring at me, each student still working on their test. Some eyes were wide with astonishment, others narrowed with irritation. “Oh boy…” I thought, “so much for blending in.”
In this class, no one could leave until everyone was finished. With no choice but to return to my seat, I walked back under the weight of the other student’s judgmental glances, feeling the full force of side-eyes from my classmates. Once seated, I pulled out my phone and checked the time. I had only been asleep for, at most, three minutes.
After class, the comments started.
"Why are you even in this class?"
"You must think we’re all dumb."
"How did you finish so fast?"
The very situation I had tried to avoid all semester had finally arrived—there was no blending in anymore.
From that day on, Math for Liberal Arts became an awkward ordeal. But I kept my head down; there were only a few weeks left until finals. I just had to lay low and hope that, eventually, everyone would forget I was even there.
Table Talk
As Christmas break approached, my dinner buddies and I found ourselves reminiscing about the snow days we enjoyed as children. The conversation soon took a sad turn, especially for us northerners, as we realized we probably wouldn’t experience any snow days in our college career since we were attending college in Florida, a place where snow was nothing more than a concept.
In the middle of our conversation, I thought back to the Miracle of White Glove and casually suggested to Brandon that we should pray for a snow day. The idea was met with chuckles, much like my own reaction when Terrance prayed for the RA to be blinded during his room inspection. No one took me seriously, and soon the conversation moved on to other topics.
Finals came and went, and they went about as well as I had expected. After a second (and far less eventful) White Glove inspection, I packed up and headed home to Ohio for the holidays.
During the break, surrounded by the familiar sight of falling snow, the idea of praying for a snow day lingered in my mind. I wanted to see God work in a real and tangible way. More than that, I longed to have the kind of faith that Terrance had shown, to believe in God so fully that even the impossible seemed within reach.
Enter 2014
By the time I returned to campus, I had made up my mind. Praying for a snow day was something I was going to do. With my birthday coming up in January, I decided to ask God for the snowday as a birthday present.
Eventually, the topic of snow days came up again, and I told my friends I was doubling down on the idea. I was going to pray earnestly for a snow day as a gift from God. But I didn’t stop there. Anytime my birthday was mentioned or the conversation turned to the topic of snow, I made sure to say, “Hey, since you mentioned it, I’m praying for God to give me a snow day for my birthday on the 29th.” Most people responded with blank stares, but that didn’t matter to me. What mattered was showing my confidence that God would work, that I was paving the way so that when the snow day happened, everyone would know it was God who made it happen. In a way, it felt like preparing for a miracle, much like the prophets of old who trusted God to move in extraordinary ways.
Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods … Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. … I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
– Isaiah 41:22-23b, 26; Isaiah 46:9-10;
You see, God had His prophets foretell His works so that when they came to pass, there would be no doubt that it was His doing. It wasn’t a mere coincidence; it was God actively working among mankind. While the actions of false gods were nothing more than after-the-fact explanations and desperate attempts to justify events or tragedies, the true God declared His works in advance through His chosen representatives.
I took this example to heart. I believed that by openly sharing what I was asking God to do, I was setting the stage so that when it happened, there would be no question whether or not God did it. If there was a snow day on my birthday, everyone I told would know it did not happen by chance.
It’s My Birthday
On January 28th, the eve of my birthday, I went to bed like any other night. Honestly, I did not think much of it. The weather predictions were normal. I was not aware of any abnormality. I set my alarm for classes the following day, closed my eyes, and drifted off to sleep. When I woke up to my alarm, I was surprised to see an announcement from the college.
“Florida Snow Day, all classes canceled.”
My jaw hit the floor. It happened! The prayer was answered! There’s never a snow day here, but there is today! I snapped a screenshot of the page, knowing I would want to share this story one day. After taking it in for a moment, I read the rest of the announcement. Despite everything else shutting down, the Sports Center and dining halls would be open for students to use throughout the day. Although there were no classes, my friends and I could go bowling, ice skating, eat some good food, and hang out together. That was truly great birthday present if you ask me.
The whole day was such an emotional high point. While other people enjoyed the snow day, no one else experienced it like I did. How could they? For them, this was a coincidence, but for me, I knew the truth: God showed up and gave me a wonderful gift.
(The screenshot mentioned above)Lessons in Faith from a Snow Day
Looking back on that miraculous snow day, it wasn’t just about a break from classes or a fun birthday surprise. It was a reminder that God listens to the prayers of His people, even when they seem impossible or trivial. Your prayers don’t always have to be grandiose or ultra-spritiual. It can be about anything, as long as God is the one who gets the glory for it. Whether it’s passing a test, finding strength to overcome exhaustion, or experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime snow day in Florida, God delights in showing up in the details of our lives.
The Miracle of White Glove and The Big Freeze weren’t isolated incidents. They were part of a larger lesson that God was teaching me: faith isn’t just about believing in big things; it’s about trusting Him in everyday moments. God calls us to come before Him with boldness, to ask, believe, and to stand firm in our expectation of His work.
Reflecting on these experiences, I’m reminded of Ephesians 3:20, which says,
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
That snow day wasn’t just an answered prayer; it was God showing me that He’s capable of more than I can imagine when I trust Him wholeheartedly.
So, what’s the takeaway from all of this? It’s simple: Don’t be afraid to pray for the seemingly impossible. Whether it’s a snow day, a breakthrough in your spiritual life, or the strength to endure the challenges ahead, God is always listening, and He’s always at work. The key to getting your prayers answered is to maintain a strong faith and not be shy about letting others know you have it.
let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. – James 1:6
True faith is firm and unwavering. It’s not about wishful thinking but about placing complete trust in God’s promises. When we confidently declare our faith, we open the door for God to work in ways that are undeniably His. Bold prayers lead to bold testimonies, and when we stand firm, we not only strengthen our own faith but also encourage others to trust Him.
Even today, as a Pastor, I carry these simple moments with me as a reminder that faith is never passive; it’s active. It’s a confident expectation that God will move, and it paves the way so that when He acts, it is unmistakable that His hand is at work.
What about you? What “snow day” are you praying for? Trust that God is able, tell the world what you’re asking for, and watch how God works in ways beyond your wildest expectations.
