Moving On and Growing Up
A few weeks ago, we moved into a brand new house. I was very scared about all the changes that were going to be made. I would have to make brand new friends, leave two of my cats behind that I had come to love, along with all the good memories from our old house.
Through all of this I realized that God lets hard things into our lives to help us grow in our faith and grow closer to Him. Romans 8:28 says “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
I have learned that when you feel comfortable and things are easy, like at my old house, I didn’t have to trust God as much because I knew what to expect. Now, I really have to trust Him way more than I did before because there are new people that I have never met and places I have never been to before.
It made me realize that this is not an everlasting place like Heaven will be. It is just temporary. God is preparing me for even more challenging times in my future, but the thing He is really getting me ready for is my real home!
Do you have hard times that you are dealing with in your life right now? Let me remind you that if you have hope in Jesus, He will bring you through.
Dear Jesus, I pray that you will help me and everyone else through all the things that are happening in my life and that you would keep us safe. Thank you for working a good purpose through hard times. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Olivia,
Your testimony is so encouraging for others. I agree that God allows challenges in our lives so that we will draw closer to Him, flex some muscles of faith that have gotten a bit flabby and out of shape, be reminded or learn in fresh ways how loving and faithful a Father He is, show us things about our hearts that may not be in sync with His Word and will, etc.
I’m glad that you are settling into your new home. Change like the one you’re going through takes time to adjust to. Take it slow, my friend, and rest in your Father’s waiting and so very capable arms.
God bless!
Laure
Our family is a Navy family so we have moved many times. While it is hard it is also an exciting adventure each time and God is always faithful to bring such wonderful people into our lives. I pray that you will have just such an experience in YOUR new home!
You are a very smart girl to be able to recognize that God is growing your faith and trust in him through this stressful time in your life. Our Pastor said not long ago that if trees did not have strong winds to blow them to and fro, they would never develop the inner strength within the base of the tree and its roots to be able to withstand those winds. I loved that!
Wow what a terrific visual aid Wendy. Thank you! I’m going to add that to our Science lessons!(hee heee and Bible) ;O)
Sisterlisa
Lisa do a little research on ‘the biosphere’, it was a project and that was one of the findings (unexpected, to boot) of that experiment. His point was they were trying to create the “perfect environment”, but when the trees got so tall, the limbs just broke off because the tree as a whole was not strong enough to hold its own limbs (due to lack of winds in the sphere). Pastor was relating that back to us in how our trials strengthen us like winds do trees.
Thanks Wendy!
Wendy, your comment reminded me of this devotional I wrote last spring. So true! There was a scientific name for what you described, but I never could recall what it was.
http://asonflower.blogspot.com/search?q=wind+and+the+rain
Olivia, I am so glad you see the picture in all that has transpired. Keep walking by faith.
Thank for this reminder Olivia! It’s hard to remember sometimes that hard stuff has a purpose…but PTL that its true!
Thank you,
Brianna
Olivia, it sounds like you’ve got the right idea about where your strength comes from. I pray that God encourages you and your family with some really fun times as you adjust to your new home. May he give you times of great laughter!