Transitions in life can be unsettling.
We are in the process of a major life transition. After serving as the worship pastors at Liberty Church Gulf Breeze for 8 years alongside my parents, God is moving us into a new season. I am a person who doesn’t love change. I love routine, I love stability and I love to have a plan and know what is coming next.
However, this last few months have been far from what I love! God spoke to our hearts to step out of the boat and to follow him into the great unknown. In the midst of stepping out I felt God’s peace come over me like I had NEVER experienced before. I have found myself laughing in the face of adversity and at any thought of fear or doubt – the joy of the Lord seems to bubble up in me and a chuckle comes spilling out deep within. It’s quite amusing to me as it is so far from the me who needs to have a plan. The only plan I keep hearing from my heavenly Father is “I’ll meet you in Nashville” – I keep asking what does this mean daddy?
His small gentle voice says it again, “I’ll meet you in Nashville” My head cannot conceive what is going on but my heart is bursting at the seems with anticipation and the peace that truly passes our natural understanding. I never really understood what that meant to the degree that I am experiencing as we walk this journey out!
We took a trip to Nashville in February 2018 to scout out the area and ask God to either truly confirm what we were feeling or give us a chance to run the other way. I was feeling overwhelmed by the thought of moving away from the familiar, and from family. We have worked along side family in ministry for over 18 years between my parents in Florida and Jamie’s parents in England where we served for 10 years. Even in the midst of chaos God can speak to your heart. As we drove around looking for houses it seemed impossible – prices were higher and seemed more than we wanted to spend. We found ourselves driving by a house that on the outside really seemed like an eye sore. Nothing visually caught my attention but when we drove by it my spirit leapt and it grabbed my attention. I asked Jamie to turn around and go back – we stopped in front of it and just waited for a moment. I don’t know what it was but something about that house was stirring in me. Jamie confirmed He was feeling something too. We went to an open house a few days later for the same house and to be totally honest I was not impressed. The pictures made it look way better then the reality of the home we were looking at. We walked out of their disappointed and really ready to move on.
Weeks passed and I spent hours looking at homes for sale and rent but for some reason I kept coming back to that house. Jamie said to me one day – I can’t get that house out of my head! After talking and praying we felt like God was saying that’s our house. I was not sure how we were going to manage this one as it is way out of our price range but I could not deny that God was doing something.
Let me be clear I am not attached to this house as it’s only some wood and physical stuff but I want a peaceable habitation where God’s presence resides and where others can come and experience that peace over their lives.
It’s part of the gift God has given us to host and provide a safe place so the house is not about the house – it’s about what God wants to do in the house. We took some big steps of faith and reached out to contact the owner and present him with an offer that would allow us to be in the house. We waited for several weeks waiting to hear I continued to feel God’s peace in the waiting.
The Lord keeps bringing me to this scripture in Exodus 14: 14, It says, “The Lord will fight for you, and all you have to do is keep still” We have done our part and now we stand and let God move on our behalf. I have released this house back to God so many times and told Him – if you want us to have this house for Kingdom purposes then I’m in but if it’s my own desires and not your will please close the doors so we will know and we will gladly move on.
When we are in seasons of waiting and waiting and looking for the next step we need to learn to be still in the confidence that He is fighting for us! He is working behind the scenes even when it feels unsettling or unsure. In a moment it can turn around and change everything. He turns our impossible challenges into the possible.
I am writing from a place of faith today because I felt like God said start celebrating the victory before it’s yours so I am thanking Him today for this mighty miracle and home to live in and host others.
He took me to Psalm 20 today which so beautifully puts the declaration of celebration for God’s amazing work. “1. In the day of danger may the Lord answer and deliver you; May the name of the God of Jacob set you safely on high! 2. May supernatural help be sent from the sanctuary. May he support you from Zion’s fortress. 3. May her remember every gift you have given him and celebrate every sacrifice of love you have shown him. 4. May God give you every desire of your heart and carry your every plan as you go to battle. 5. When you succeed, we will celebrate and shout for joy. Flags will fly when victory is yours! Yes, God will answer your prayers and we will praise him! 6. I know God gives me all that I ask for and brings victory to his anointed king. My deliverance cry will be heard in his holy heaven. By his mighty hand miracles will manifests through his saving strength. 7. Some find strength in their weapons and wisdom, but my miracle deliverance can never be won by men. Our boast is in the Lord our God, who makes us strong and gives us the Victory! Our enemies will not prevail; they will only collapse and perish in defeat while we will rise up, full of courage. 9. Give victory to our king, O God! The day we call on you, give us your answer! (The Passion Translation)
Begin to thank God for your victories to come and for the things you are believing for and learn to be still and let him fight on your behalf! He won’t dissappoint!
Scriptures: Exodus 14:14, Psalm 20, Psalm 84:11, Isaiah 41:10 and 2 Corinthians 9:8