I haven’t shared a lot about what’s been going on for our family in the past few months…mostly because I wasn’t sure where to start, at least not with much clarity or direction.
The lack of direction has not necessarily improved, but, perhaps, the clarity has.
Back in January, John found out some major changes were coming at work. His team would be changing and, for the most part, moving overseas. His position would be dissolved. We didn’t have a timeline.
At first, it was okay! There were other options. We thought answers would come quickly…we thought we’d know more in a week or so (hah!). So, we committed it to prayer and waited for what we thought would fall into place quickly…only then it didn’t. We continued to pray for open and ::key:: closed, doors.
Friends, the “Waiting Place,” isn’t new to us. Just three years ago, around this time, God made it abundantly clear that we were to uproot our family and move to Asheville, NC. We grew and out lives changed dramatically. It then became clear again when it was time to come “home,” to the place he chose for us. (I’ve included links for those of you who may not have been a part of that journey, though many of you have!)
Well…back to now…possibilities that in the beginning of our new “unknown” seemed sure have become not just closed, but slammed doors.
But, one felt a little different.
A clear, open door presented itself, a dream job, if you will. A dream job across the country. A great possibility. A sure thing.
We committed it to prayer like we have all other things. We were nervous and heartbroken about potentially leaving family and friends here, yet, unspokenly, excited about the adventure, the newness we loved during our last relocation.
But (see the pattern…there are many ‘buts’ involved in this one!), it didn’t settle. That clear leading we felt during our last two moves just didn’t come. We prayed and asked others to join us. We fasted.
Through scripture, conversations and answers in the quiet, we did receive a clear answer, but, it sure wasn’t what we hoped for. It was a loud and resounding “no. trust. wait.”
Guys…this is scary. It got even more scary when the very day we received this answer, we also received another slammed door, our last potential “sure” option. This answer? The one we received? It meant (and still means) moving forward without a direction – at least not one we can see. It means trusting again in a plan that’s so much greater than ours.
Today in church, we felt even more clarity as we sang the words:
“We won’t move without you.
We won’t move without you.
You’re the light of all and all that we need.”
And our pastor shared thoughts like:
“If I really follow God, what will that mean for…family, career, etc?”
And:
“Do not fear. The moments of our greatest needs and fears and weaknesses, God shows himself great.”
It spoke to us.
We don’t know what’s ahead right now. When we end that thought right there, it’s a little terrifying.
But there’s more to this story. Somehow, inside, we feel a great sense of peace.
I talk a lot about how we are to trust a plan greater than ours. Right now, we’re being forced to live it out. In some miraculous way though, we feel comfort in this. A real “peace that passes understanding.”
The future? It’s in a state of complete unknown, which I guess it always is for everyone, right? We don’t know what the next hour will bring, let alone the next month or year. But, we are committed to praying it through and walking forward with confidence; the one who made the stars is telling us to wait. To stay. To trust.
So…here we are. And somehow…that feels right. There’s nothing better we could be doing.
Are you being asked to “wait?” Can you find comfort in that?
Take Two 
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