Faith Plunge

Sometimes faith is taking one step at a time and sometimes taking a plunge off the proverbial deep end. Has God ever asked you to do something that sounded odd? That is a good sign because the majority of the time, at least in my experience, whenever God asks you to do something, it makes little sense or is completely opposite of what your plans for life may have been.

Four weeks ago the Lord told me something and then asked me to do something that was so huge it almost sounded bananas!

Back up to ten years ago and as a new single mom, I purchased my first home all by myself. God worked out a series of miracles in order to get me in this house and I have been extremely thankful for it! Just about every day, I still thank God for this house and consider it one of the biggest blessings God has ever given me materially!

My plan has always been that I would be in this house forever; I would retire in this house, play with my grandchildren in this house and die in this house. I was dead set on that fact, and when I am determined about something, there is absolutely no way to change my mind! It literally takes an act of God or someone very close and special to me to get me to change my mind once it has been made up. This is because I think long and hard about things, heavily weigh the options, write down the pros and cons, pray about it (a lot) and have to come at peace with the final decision before it is made.

Four weeks ago, the Lord told me flat out that, “You have been floundering here (in this city) for the past two years.” Then he very gently nudged me with the words, “You need to move.”  Over the previous six months, the state of Texas has been put in front of me and before me in many conversations, on television and it seemed like everywhere else I turned. Even some newly made friends at church who had just moved here from Texas (because their family is all here and God told them to move here) and it was one of those friendships where we immediately clicked. One evening, they invited us to dinner (a few months ago) and were saying how wonderful Texas was and how great of a place to raise kids, conservative Bible belt of the southwest, there were lots of jobs and it was just a great all-around place to live. I thought nothing of it at that time and actually kind of blew it off, because as I said before, I was never planning to leave here or move out of my big blessing (my house). “How nice for them (to have been able to live in such a great place),” I thought.

My initial response to him was, “Lord, if this is really you asking me to sell my house and move to Texas, then please confirm it to me so I have no doubt it is from you.” He started confirming it in little ways over and over.  In fact, I was initially overwhelmed and began to list all the things in my mind about why this would be an impossible thing to do. As I was listing all the impossibilities before the Lord, I reminded him that in fact, if he really wanted this, he was going to have to work out a series of miracles to pull it off. That very night, I opened up my devotional book and began to read… “God of the impossible.” This devotional was specifically about how God loved the word impossible and specialized in it!

So now that I began to have some confirmations, my mind went from “never wanting to move again (we have moved several times through the years due to my ex-husband’s job)” to “Let’s go! Woo Hoo! Adventure time!!” Now I absolutely cannot wait for our new adventure, which will begin next year when my youngest son graduates from high school and my oldest from college.

I am so thankful that God prepared me a year in advance for this (which gives me plenty of time to plan and sell my house), as well as over the past three years by some very, very difficult circumstances here which now looking back I can see that God was releasing us from one thing at a time by cutting ties with this area. In every single area here, we have been floundering and desiring change (and praying a lot for changes in several areas). He has answered all those prayers, but just in a very different way than I expected.

Searching for a job for almost two years (better job or even a second job) with no bites has been frustrating, but in hindsight, I can see that God allowed that to show me there was nothing promising here for us. Also, my child support cuts off next spring when my youngest turns 18, which makes my house payment and utilities as well as clothing, necessities for the kids. On my meager pay, I could not possibly make a house payment and keep up with everything else too, so something drastic must happen in my income in order for us to make it. There are cities in Texas where jobs are very plentiful and it is much easier finding a good paying job than it ever will be here. (I have heard this from people who move here from other places all the time, that it is very hard finding a job here, and then one that pays decently).

God was right! We have floundered long enough and drastic changes must be made if things are going to change!

I will seriously miss my house, my neighborhood and my next door neighbors as well as my “inner circle” of true friends! I have been blessed tremendously in these areas and am praying the same on the other side after our move!

This is a huge step of faith for me, and I have so many questions yet and several fears. This is quite a large undertaking for a single mom to do alone, move seven to eight hours away to a new state. What if I cannot sell my house or if I do, for a decent price? Will I be able to find a rental home on the other side and a job? How am I going to move everything from here to there on my own in a cost-efficient and time-efficient manner, especially with my health issues and back problems?

However, the more God gives me peace about it, the more I am reassured this is the right thing to do. He knows how all of it will work out, and because he is calling us to make this bold step, I also have to believe (with the most faith I have ever had to have before) that he will provide answers and solutions to all those questions.

Here we go…