The environment that we are in has so much to do with our growth. The natural world simply mirrors the spiritual world. Nature shows us that trees, plants, or anything that is living needs to placed in the right environment in order for them to live and reach their full potential. Some living organisms cannot live or thrive within certain conditions.
There have been many seasons where God had opportunities for growth, healing, and freedom for me, but the environment that I was in was not conducive to what I needed to grow. In His wisdom, God has moved me to another environment where what I needed to grow was available. I would like to share a few of those times so you are able to gain greater perspective what God may be doing in your life.
The first time I experienced a large move was when I was seventeen. I had been saved for about two years and immediately received a call into ministry. I had no idea how to be equipped to do what God had showed me. What I did need was a new environment. One that was full of people
of character, love, wisdom, and those who believed in me. Most of all, I needed an atmosphere where the unconditional love of God and His presence were so real, which began the process of restoring my very broken soul.
It was not until I was attending the school for a few months that the magnitude of the decision to move across country as a young girl hit me. Father God began unfolding how all that He had for me could not be received in the environment that I was in and that He needed to move me to an entirely new one so that He could do what He desired and needed to do in my life. I would not be where I am at today without those intense, life-changing years!
When God moves us into something new, we must leave the old. Sometimes the old has been fruitful, but sometimes the old has been unfruitful and Jesus desires to cut it out of our lives. These times can be painful and confusing for us. When God asks us to leave something or certain relationships that are no longer healthy for us, our emotions experience all sorts of ups and downs. We grieve, we mourn, we cry. But on the other side of obedience is so much joy! Psalm 30:5 declares, “ weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” I would like to share one very difficult season that God allowed me to go through, but how so much life came from what felt like death at the time.
About six years ago, our family was a part of a church that we loved very much. The reason that we loved the church was because we loved the people who were there. We were drawn to the moving of the Spirit of God and the emphasis on deep intimacy with God and each other. My husband and I were involved in so many areas of ministry and were very intimately involved in the lives of our pastor, leaders, and members. Our two daughters were born while we were there and we thrived on doing life with our family. About ten years into attending this church, our pastor took my husband, Andy out to lunch to ask if we would be interested in pastoring the church as he was feeling called to more missionary work. Instantly, I jumped at the opportunity to serve this house that was “home” to my family and I. We prayed together because it was such a weighty decision and because there had been some issues within the ministry that had concerned us in the past. After feeling God’s “yes!”, we accepted what we thought would be an easy transition into the position as pastors.
In all honesty, I am extremely thankful that we did not know how things would turn out when we said yes to Jesus! Long story short, there was much deception, manipulation, and lack of love involved in the entire process and after nine intense months, God released my husband and I from the assignment that He had for us. We left our spiritual “home” after eleven years. Talk about painful and confusing! Ugh. Our family experienced the loss of real family and an environment that we had grown, healed, and became free in many ways in. But, God showed us that in order to continue to grow into the people that He had made us to be and what He had called us to do, we needed a new environment. One that included health, love, and freedom. One that was based on His ways and heart. One that was based on kingdom life.
The last example I want to share with you is from our family’s move this past year. For the months leading up to our move to Redding, California to attend Bethel Church and their ministry school, I was feeling the rumblings of the ground beneath my feet. I knew that God was shaking up my life (yet again) and preparing me for something great. He released His plans to move us to a new environment as He spoke the words, “ I am sending you to Bethel”, while out on a drive in the Oregon countryside where I was living at the time. God had been doing so many supernatural things in our lives and keep luring us deeper into His ways. In order for us to continue to grow in what was doing in our lives, He needed to move us to a new place.
Some may wonder if a move (of any kind) is necessary in order to follow Jesus. Yes! We have to move. Sometimes the move is not geographical and sometimes it is. At times, the shift may simply take place within our thinking, without our precious feet ever having to move an inch. At other times, Jesus takes us by the hand and leads us across the state, country, world, or to another job, church, or relationship so that we can grow into the people that He destined us to be. The issue is not where we go, but if we are willing to go. God is not stagnant! We see this illustrated by Jesus being moved by the winds of the Spirit wherever His Father was leading Him. Abraham left his home (Genesis 12). Joshua led millions into their promised lands. The disciples were sent out (Matthew 28). Jesus left heaven. Movement in the kingdom of God is normal!
So today, I want to encourage you to make any move that you feel like God is telling you to. Our promised lands are on the other side of our “yes!” With with each move, I experienced the normal emotions of loss or sadness, but what I found waiting for me was more of the presence of God. More of His favor. More of Him. And friends, He is the One that I cannot live without!
