Life Update: God’s Call to Move—From a Small Town to the Big City!

A few years ago, I dreamt that I was standing in the middle of a road, with a single suitcase at my side, leaving all that I knew, all that I held dear and all other worldly possessions behind in pursuit of God’s calling on our lives.

Now, I firstly need to make clear that I believe that the main way God speaks to us today is through His Word but my dream did raise an interesting question that I couldn’t get out of my mind, “Would I really be willing to count all else as loss if God called us to do exactly that?”

And I have to be honest, I wrestled with whether I was open and ready for that dream to become a reality for quite some time.

And now that it has, I realize that in His goodness, God was preparing my heart even then for what He has brought about in our lives today.

Last year at this time, my husband and I were making plans to buy the house where we are living and excitedly looking forward to new plans in the ministry.

Little did we know that our good Father had His own plans for us—and they were quite different from ours.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; where as you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-15 (NKJV)

And so, after much traveling recently, we are back “home” packing all our worldly goods to put them in storage, except for a suitcase or two, and stay with a family from our new church in what will be our new city until we find a place of our own.

Why?

Is it because we enjoy big cities—definitely not. Or because Jonathan will be making more money—quite the opposite; or perhaps because we have a beautiful home awaiting us—no; or is it because we will be closer to loved ones?—again the answer is no.

The answer is simple.

The reason is because God is good, worthy of trust and knows what is best and His kingdom and eternity are more important than our little desires.

Besides, everything under the sun is temporary and quickly passing away anyways.

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 6:12 (NKJV)

Only the sovereign Lord…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

And He has made His plans for us very clear.

Seeking to grasp on tightly with white-knuckled fists to what will soon be gone would be foolish when compared to the glory that will be revealed in Christ.

Even though the answer is simple—the process hasn’t been the easiest for me. Leaving my hometown and family brought moments of sadness and tears but God brings comfort every step of the way.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

Even though there’s lots of emotions involved when one chapter of our lives comes to a close, God is bringing excitement and anticipation looking ahead to the beautiful things He has in store.

And knowing that He is with us every step of the way, and is the One who goes before us, gives so much peace, joy and amazement at His faithful love.

I would like to end this article with a few verses including one from a shirt my husband and I had made for the ministry many years ago .

The verse on the back is Galatians 2:20:

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (NKJV)

Christ, the Beautiful One, loved me and gave everything for me—-how can I do any less?

Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:45-46 ( NKJV)

I pray that if you haven’t already, today you see Christ as the greatest treasure you could ever have—the Pearl of great price.

Because He is.

Love, Lauri

And as always,

Be kind. Be Encouraging. Be a Multiplier!