So when we felt called to move again, I expected the same thing to happen. I expected God to handle all the details with ease. To sell our house, to provide the salary we were needing, to lead us to the right church, and basically make everything fall into place like He did the last time.
I had so many people tell me their testimony of how God told them to move and then He sold their house in record time for above what they were asking. Of course God would do that for me too! Right?!?
Wrong. Our house did not sell right away. It has been on the market for 82 days. (Which I realize is not really that long, but when you are expecting God to sell it in 3, it starts to test your faith. Especially, when I am now the proud owner of two house payments. ) Thankfully, we do currently have a contract on it that is supposed to close in August, but after one failed contract already, I'd say we're a little gun-shy.
We also haven't found a church yet. It's hard. It's hard to know where God wants us to go. Trust me, I have prayed about it, but I just don't feel like I've gotten a solid answer yet.
There have been some other bumps along the way that I don't feel comfortable sharing on here. Things where we expected one thing and the opposite happened. Things that didn't pan out the way we were hoping.
It's so easy to start to doubt. Did we hear wrong? Did we make a mistake moving? Why aren't things supernaturally falling into place? Would it have been better if we had just stayed where we were? What if the house contract falls apart again? What if? What if? What if?
What ifs are faith killers!
I know that God told us to move to Fort Worth. I know that it is His plan and that He has not forgotten us. I know that He did not move us here just to leave us to ourselves. But, why then is this the path He had us take?
Maybe this is how the Israelites felt when they left Egypt. Here God had done all these miracles to get Pharaoh to let them go and they leave Egypt with their arms loaded with gold and silver and head out toward the desert only to come face to face with the Red Sea. "What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?" they questioned Moses. All they could see was the enemy behind them and nowhere to go.
But what they thought had been their biggest miracle- God leading them out of Egypt- and then the betrayal that they felt at facing the Red Sea- was only setting them up for an even more amazing, fantastic, awe-inspiring miracle. The parting of the Red Sea.
It says in Exodus 13:17 that "God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle."
It strikes me as ironic that although the Israelites left Egypt armed for battle, God knew they were not ready to face war. Therefore, He led them on a longer route. Sometimes we get frustrated with the long route, but God knows what we are ready to handle and He is protecting us.
I feel like I'm on a longer route this time around. Perhaps I am not headed directly for my destination and maybe there will be a giant obstacle in the way. But, my God is Faithful! He will provide.
Are you feeling like you might have missed the plan of God? Are you feeling that you are walking a path that isn't leading exactly where you thought you were going? Is it taking longer than you expected?
Have hope! God has not forgotten you. He is not leading you astray. He has you right where He wants you! Your biggest miracle is yet to come!
