Getting Settled

I have to be honest. It’s been really hard. I’ve cried a lot.

My heart longs for the comforts of what I knew. My family, our friends and our home. We were settled. I knew my way around the grocery store. I didn’t have to use google maps to know how to get somewhere. I knew how to ‘do life’ there. Now here, in a new town and a very small town (population 4,500), everything feels awkwardly different. Unsure how to make my way.

A lot has happened in the last six weeks since moving. We moved into our rental, all the girls started school (2nd, Kinder, and Preschool), and the two oldest finished their soccer season.

In the middle of all the new transitions, my emotions have been up and down like a wicked roller coaster. I’m optimistic and hopeful one moment and then frustrated and discouraged the next. Oh my poor hubby! Reflecting on the last weeks, I’ve done way more complaining than I’d like to admit. I’m so very human. With my comforts taken away I've been acting like two year old.  Have you been there too?

I’ve been continuing to read the story of Abraham. A passage jumped out at the me the other day when I was reading.

“After Lot had gone, the Lord said the Abram...” Genesis 13:14

I know you are thinking, “I’m not seeing it. Well, Lot was Abram's nephew. (Abram was his name before God changed it to Abraham in Genesis chapter 17) Lot had made the journey with Abram from his home land of Ur. After settling in Canaan, Abram and Lot decided it was time to separate because the land could not support their growing herds.

I can imagine how devastating this was for Abram to lose family. To lose a comfort. It's just after Lot leaves that God shows up. You see God is always about encouraging us. Showing up with timely grace.

Just in case Abram had forgotten why God had brought him here to this new land, God reminds Abram of His promise.

After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” Genesis 13:14-17

God promised land as far as he could see.
God promised descendants that were too many to count.

Over and over again over the past weeks I have seen God's grace show up in timely ways. Just like Abram did so many years ago.

Nothing broke in the move and it all arrived in one week.
My girls met friends before school even started.
My in-laws watched the girls while I unpacked.
I’ve quickly met other gals who would like to study the Bible with me.
Our neighbors have a daughter the girls love playing with her.
A new friend who also just moved. 
The girls are quickly adjusting to their new school.
I’ve received encouraging text from friends back home at my lowest moments.

Each so timely. Each brought my heart hope. Each reminded me that God’s got this.

When Abram waved goodbye to Lot He didn't know when God was going to show up but He did and with the perfect encouragement that his heart needed. 

Are you feeling discouraged today? Have you recently lost something or someone dear to you that was a comfort to your heart? God see's. He knows. He has timely grace in store today for you.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3

Turning the Page

Everything can change in just a moment. That is what happened when my husband got the call about a new job. We’d be moving. Though some might think of moving as a grand new adventure, I’m more the one to dread the changes. I don’t like change. Well at least not BIG changes. I'm good with season changing, or changing my home decor, or even changing my regular order at my favorite restaurants...but pretty much I don’t like change.

We all can feel much the same way. Through we know change can be good, we fear the unknown. And that unknown keeps us hunkered down in the comfortable and familiar.

I’ve been reading through the story of Abraham found in Genesis chapter 12-25. It’s been so comforting to read his faith journey. Abraham was human. He got tripped up a lot, like me. Yet he is a faith hero.

God had called Abraham to leave everything. He left his homeland, his family and friends, and all his comforts to go to a new land. And God didn't even tell him where just that he would show him. (EEK! At least I know the place.) He packed up everything and went. The Bible doesn’t tell us what Abraham was thinking but he was human. Moving to an unknown place is a big change. And big changes freak people out.

Like me, did he or his wife Sarah think...

"Where are we going to live? What if I can’t find the right house? What will the neighbors be like? Great or really weird? What about the schools? Are they high performing? Will my kids be okay? Are there any great churches? Will we find one like the one we are leaving? Is there any good shopping? Will we find great friends again? Will we fit in? How long will be feel unsettled?"

When all these are unknown the time has come for a freaking out moment. Which I have had many of these moments over the last couple of months. And trust me it has not been pretty.

But when God called Abraham he didn’t just say go and that was it. No, God gave him six promises.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3

The Lord knew just how to comfort Abraham's heart. He knew just what Abraham needed to hear to help him on the faith journey ahead. God promises him a child. He promises to make him into a somebody in a land where he will start as a nobody. He promises that he will be a blessing to others. The Lord also promises to have his back when the going get tough. Lastly, He promises Abraham that he will have a lasting legacy.  

Knowing God’s promises strengthen us to walk in faith.

Lord gave Abraham promises to strengthen his faith and He has given me promises to strengthen mine. When you and I remember, rest and trust in the those promises we are able to walk forward in joy, peace, and hope.

You know when you are reading a really great book that you can’t wait to turn the next page to find out what happens? If you are like me, you have cheated a few times and turned to the end because you know it’s going to be that good. In the story of my life, I’ve been so reluctant to turn this next page. Fearing the unknown. I’m also so sad because I've loved this chapter so much. But I have a perfect author, a heavenly author, that has already written my story and it is going to be pretty great. He promises that it will be. Not because of anything I’ve done but because of Him and everything that He has done.

So just like Abraham as we set out to a new land our faith is being strengthened because of the Lord’s great promises.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

What promises are strengthening your faith today?