Can you see that God is preparing a place for you?
My Father’s home is designed to accommodate all of you.
If there were not room for everyone, I would have told you that.
I am going to make arrangements for your arrival.
(John 14:2, VOICE)
Our new women’s director, Sue, started a women’s ministry prayer time this past November. As we prayed together that first Wednesday, I got very teary-eyed. Of course, I cry at the drop of a hat (ask my kids). Then, it was such a sweet time of fellowship with the Lord and with these women that I didn’t even know. But, truth be told, I was a bit of a mess when I got there.
We moved here in the mid-July and started at our new church two weeks later. We’re still settling in and it’s April. When I went to that meeting in mid-November, I was so very lonely. I realized that, after a lifetime of military moves (as a child and as a wife), I was just worn out with New. I was weary of Change.
God often helps us to make change
by making us uncomfortable in our current situation.
I basically burst into tears while praying with strangers. Hello, ladies, this is me and I’m a stone-cold mess today! Here is where we begin to see that the Lord is always preparing the way for us: they had kleenex right there on the table. It’s like they knew I was coming. Hallelujah, my new, lash-lengthening mascara didn’t run down my whole face because I was able to catch it with a tissue!
As we walked together toward the parking lot, Linda and I introduced ourselves to one another. Her husband is retired from the military, she is a writer, she loves the Lord and His Word, and she’s been a Bible-study teacher for many years. Plus she was an English major. So, naturally I was floored because: God is so kind.
When we first moved, I didn’t give much thought to my friend situation. I was worried about the kids. And of course, unpacking. Years ago, I read it takes a year to settle in, after moving. I kept telling myself that. I set my expectations low.
The kids got busy pretty quickly—tennis/piano lessons for Grace, plus two youth events/week; martial arts/guitar lessons for Josh, plus Sunday night for 6th graders. And online school during the day and homework at night.
I had, umm, a stress fracture. Not much going on.
I joined some groups (choir, a discipleship group, Sunday school and Newcomers’ life group), but bumping into wonderful people, weekly, isn’t the same as having deep friendships. I’m thankful for my long-distance friends who kept in touch with me, some pretty often, but as time passed, I was growing more lonely.
I finally realized it was time to do something I hadn’t done before: pray that the Lord would help me find someone else who really needed a friend. At breakfast, my kids prayed for me too. But everyone I met, or had coffee or lunch with, had a full social schedule.
When you moved somewhere new,
it takes a while to find your place, your people.
But God makes room for you.
When I met Linda, I had no idea that a few months later, we would begin co-leading the prayer team, meeting weekly to talk about our writing, and making plans to attend the women’s beach retreat together. Because this woman is busy! She has grown kids, several women she disciples weekly, a part-time job, and seems to be on, or is a previous member of, every church committee I hear about.
God knew that we would friends, long before I moved here. In fact, He planned it. When I was in Phoenix, I didn’t realize that He was preparing a place for me in Linda’s busy life. And since then, He has planted a few other special friends from church in my life, too. Everyone is busy. It’s hard to get together some weeks. But friends…now I have friends. What a gift!
God is detail-oriented. I have seen it again and again—He plans everything. He says He is preparing a place for us. He’s done it for me on Earth, and He’s doing it for me, in eternity. I know it’s true!
Today, I’m excited for you to meet my friend, Linda! Please click here to read about Before & After their basement renovation and how it showed her what that God is at work, preparing a place for us.
Tell me what's on your heart: