Moving Away

"For the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

If I had to sum up in one word for our family what this spring and summer holds for us, it would be the word MOVING.  Almost every member of our family seems to be doing some sort of moving.  It began with my mom moving out of her home of 20+ years into a smaller, more manageable, apartment.  Next saw our son moving from a cramped bed on an aircraft carrier, to a nice apartment with a regular-sized bed.  The next move will be one of our daughters from an older home to an apartment building a bit closer to the city of Boston.  The last move will be another daughter moving from an older home into an apartment building as well.  What has all this moving taught me?

• Moving away from something you have been attached to for a long time can be difficult.  There were lots of memories in my mom's house, memories for her and our family.  Also, being so attached to a home can have you wondering at times, "Am I making the right decision?"
• Moving can take us out of our comfort zone.  When I saw where our son has been sleeping for the last year, I was excited that he will have an opportunity to sprawl out a bit and be more comfortable - that alone was exciting.  Yet, he will have different responsibilities now with his first apartment that may take him out of his comfort zone.
• Moving can be scary.  Will the new apartments coincide to the finances that are necessary?  Will there be unexpected costs that weren't planned for?
• Moving can yield uncertainty.  There are plenty of times when moving family members already where the words, "What if. . . ." have been at the beginning of a sentence.

Moving away from comfort, whether it is a home of 20+ years or a small bunk, can yield all sorts of emotions.  Among the uncertainty, is a great big God that says, "Bring it on!"  These new and different scenarios are important for our growth here on earth.  It is also important for our growth with our Heavenly Father.  While life around one moving can bring up many different emotions, we can be grounded in the One that knows the plans that lie ahead for us.  He is there, guiding the way, as long as we allow Him to do the guiding.

As our verse for today shares, He has a future and a hope for us.  By putting the words, future, hope and God all in one sentence, I feel confident that what is ahead for my family will be surrounded in Jesus' love.  He will watch over all of them.  He will guide them to goodness.  He will provide for them.  For the couple of us who aren't moving this year?  Have simple faith that He will provide that same assurance for our future needs as well.  Moving can hold many anxious moments.  Remember, that moving can also hold a future and a hope - one that rests squarely with God.

Heavenly Father, change, especially moving, can move us not just physically, but emotionally as well.  Help us to remember that you are with us, guiding our needs and our future.  May we rely on your judgment to bring us all that we need, simple faith that you have our best interest in your hands.  Thank you Jesus!!