Life-changing Moment - The Move

When did you move? Did your dad get transferred? Are you a military brat, a pastor's kid, or was your own move out of your parent's place the first time you left home? As a kid, you probably didn't have much say in the matter, but at some point in time it was your decision and most of the time it is voluntary. Sometimes out of necessity, sometimes for a better opportunity, but no matter what the reason, a move comes with mixed emotions. Yes, having to move to another house, another city, another state, or even another country changes the course of one's life. Good-bye familiarity. Hello uncertainty.

If there is family involved, the move is even more traumatic. This is especially true if you are the reason for the move. Moving your wife away from her friends (and in most cases, her family) is going to create some angst. Your wife may be completely behind the move, but that doesn't change the fact that you are the reason she is pulling up roots and taking off for parts unknown. And, if you have kids, you're toast. No amount of spin about new schools, new friends, and new opportunities will convince them this is a good thing. Don't even entertain the notion; it's not going to happen. Depending on your child's age, you're going to get anything from long, sad faces mixed with tears to slammed doors and rude behavior. It's quite possible you'll even hear outbursts like these: "You don't care about me!" "You're ruining my life!" "I hate you!"

The children of Israel were not all that happy to leave Egypt. They complained how much better it was back in Egypt and how they really didn't want to be in the wilderness. While you may think moving to the wilderness would be a grand adventure, most of them got bogged down with the journey and missed the joy of anticipating the destination. God gave them a land flowing with riches; they had more than they could imagine and each became happy. The good thing for us on this side of heaven is that most of the time that happens in our earthly moves, too. We get to the new destination and find out how really wonderful it is.

As we move throughout our lives, we can always count on our heavenly Father to be by our side -- guiding, sustaining, uplifting, and comforting. What about you? Did you have to move? How did that work out?