And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6 NLT
A little over a year ago, I found my spot at camp. I would sit on the bench, which was on the bridge overlooking the creek. It was a protected sanctuary that had a roof of large trees and leaves. They would protect me, drawing shade from the hot sun and a shelter in the midst of a rain storm. I would sit there to get away from the unknowns, the struggles, and honestly, the realities of having no control of my family’s future. I would praise God there. I would sob for forgiveness in my unbelief. I would beg for assurance and peace of what I could not see ahead of me.
But it was a place where I could escape and find a moment of tranquility in what seemed turbulent and unsettled.
Sitting there where all I could hear was the invisible wind, making its presence known, birds singing as if they had no cares in the world, water flowing with a confidence of where the path would lead…it was peace for my soul. It was a moment to just be still, and to know that the God of creation and the nature that surrounded me cared more for me than the beauty those sounds and visuals could ever fully express.
And as has been my thought many times before when God slammed doors shut on our life journey, I would wonder what a year from now would look like. Obviously God knows the plans he has for me, plans to give me a hope and future. And a peace would come over me, knowing that I would look back a year from that time, and see a glimpse of his perfection and goodness in my life through the changes a year would bring. He has a plan, He cares enough to have it all laid out. He has the moments that will take my breath away, moments where I’ll fully see his hand, and the pieces will fit together. Moments where he will take me to new places and answer the prayers that have been most pressed on my heart.
Here I am. A year later…seeing the pieces fit together. Completely? No! I’m still in personal transition. It takes me the longest to find my place! But I have a home…what a miraculous experience it was to find the only home with the desires of heart and location. Close to the schools that fit our girls so well. Three minutes from the church we’d call home. Across from a shopping center where our daily needs are met. A neighborhood with walking paths and a pond. Did I already say it was the only house available? It fit our family perfectly. It is beautiful, spacious, with little maintenance, fenced-in backyard, and a refreshing place to rest, enjoy family time, eat, sleep and feel at home. We longed and prayed for those things: good schools, a good church for our kids and for us, a place where we could be safe, feel cared for and to experience God’’s goodness…together. He not only answered, but he blessed more that we could’ve planned or imagined on our own.
He provided a job for Roy. I’ll let Roy tell his side of that journey…because like every other chapter, God showed his perfection in the job, ministry and passion to the things that built up to this moment. But I will share that once a door first opened, it was less than 8 weeks before our house was packed and being moved across the country…again. And so again, all of the details we had to figure out in that short amount of time…between holidays even…God had to take our hands and dictate many of those details for us. It’s like a parent, he clearly said, “call this moving company, this is the home for you, fill out the paperwork in a parking lot, this is the church you will attend (not the one we had planned on!!), register your kids in these schools. Here’s the dates. Here’s the plan. Just follow my lead.” He had to dictate. We could’ve never figured it out on our own.
Nebraska? Really God?
Where the heck is Nebraska anyway?
I know it’s out there somewhere between NH and CO…but exactly where? What? No mountains? I know there’s no big bodies of water…but corn and endless fields? Ugh…but the people. The beauty of people is so much more beautiful than even the greatest of mountains. I’m still on the relationship building journey, but people out here are NICE! I mean they just make you feel like family, like they’ve known you for years. I’m still learning to raise my head and give eye contact as I pass people…because they really want to be cordial! Though I’m still navigating relationships, I see my kids make friends and connect, at church and school. And for me, that was the priority. They are so happy and so very content. They’ve adjusted quicker that I could have imagined. And they each have found friends who are in the foster care system or have been adopted. That just is a God wink for the call to which he had for us here.
Did you hear my repeated words throughout? More than I could’ve ever imagined or planned in my own strength. Every part of the journey has found its place in the greater story of our last this last year. I won’t lie. I questioned and grieved, worried and doubted a year ago. But I also fought the lies that God couldn’t move us on to greater things. I fought it by reminding myself that the questions of the present will have many answers a year later. The faith isn’t a one-time belief in a God who protects and orchestrates. Faith is the journey by which we live each day, depending on the One who already has it all figured out.
I don’t know about you, but I’m glad He has it figured out. I’m completely exhausted when I take those measures into my own control. I’m reminded today, as I look back and remember, I just need to follow His lead…and find peace, joy and purpose in the midst of the journey, which is the here and now. And be expectant. Because a year from now, I think I’ll be looking back at relationships, where my kids are at in their own journeys, and the passions he’s placed on my heart…and I’ll see the pieces of the coming weeks and months play out perfectly and often miraculously.
Sincere Religion 