New Beginnings

As the fire crackled and the goulash bubbled within its pot, God spoke and my wife and I left behind all we’d known to obey the Lord’s leading. Thirteen years ago we packed up our house, gathered up our four small children, and left the comfort of our lives to obey God’s direction. ‘The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you’ (Genesis 12:1).

As we follow Jesus, we’ll all go through times of struggling through decisions in our lives, wondering if we’re doing the right thing, questioning if we heard correctly from the Lord, or whether we did it at the right time; His time?

I would love to tell you that in the past dozen years I stood strong in my faith that we’d heard correctly to go and make disciples in the nations of Eastern and Central Europe, but I can’t. The very first time our finances took a hit and we didn’t have enough for that month, I wanted to run back to the comforts I’d left. You see, like Simon Peter, I’d left a ‘boat’ behind. I had thoughts of how relatively easy it would be to just slide back into our old life and return to my old way of living.

When everything is predictable in our lives we can become fixed in it, and even fearful of change. Often people go into some endeavor with their own ideas of how it will work, and when it doesn’t turn out that way they start to doubt their direction was inspired by God. That’s when we have to stand in faith and trust that, even though our situation wasn’t what we thought it would be, God will take care of us, and we can remember this scripture: ‘“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”, declares the LORD’ (Isaiah 55:8).

With me, I continued to mentally go back to that day and examine it in detail. As I did, I found it was irrefutably God-inspired, which enabled me to know that what seemed like shaky ground to me was His solid rock. As I trusted Him, the days turned into months and the months into years. Today what started in one nation is now built into multiple nations and is still growing!

God is looking for willing and obedient people with hearts for His kingdom. With these people He will move mountains! Are you willing? Is God prompting you with a new beginning? Then go and be that obedient servant of Jesus and be a risk taker for Him.

Peter took a step from his boat on the call from Jesus to come, and, even though he sank after doubting, Jesus pulled him back up on the surface and walked with him, holding his hand. Jesus will guide you each step, and when you falter He’ll help you stand again, if you trust Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me take those first steps of faith to begin to walk into the new beginnings where You’re leading me. I want to do Your will, and I believe You told me to do this work. Lord, will You bring confirmation to me? I want to see Your kingdom grow, Lord! Use me Lord! Equip me to do this work! Help me to keep my eyes on You when things get shaky in my life, and when it seems different from what I pictured it would be. I need You Jesus! Amen.