Thirty-two years ago, our family followed God’s leading and moved across the country. We picked up stakes, and together with our young children, left the familiar behind. What we could not see, were the ways that God would use that move to shatter all of our pre-conceived notions of what Christianity and the Ministry looked like. We had so many lessons to learn. . .
“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,
all the remnant of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,
and have carried since you were born.
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:3-4
The month before we moved, a friend gave us those verses from Isaiah. And I chose to cling to the promises that HE would sustain us through every step of the uncertainty. And He did! But in the process, my husband suffered through a deep depression as the Lord gradually loosened our hold on a ministry dream that had too much of our own selves written all over it. When my husband shared words that I had spoken to him with his counselor, the counselor wondered how I could have such insight. I only knew that God was carrying us, and there was nowhere to go except to Him.
HE became our only answer.
When we weren’t sure our faith would survive intact, God held onto us, and He led us back to our Midwestern roots. But the trials were not finished. Through the next 10 years, He shook up every notion of what we thought our days should look like. He drew us out of ourselves and brought us into the solid ground of His merciful sustaining grace. We tasted what it felt like to have a failed ministry, a failed business, and no home of our own.
HE became our only home.
To read the rest of this post, please join me over at Lisa Brittain’s site:
where I am so blessed to be sharing another part of my story today!
I am linking with:
BettieGsRAseasons 
I just left a comment over at the other site, but I wanted to reiterate here how much this post meant to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this encouragement.
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Dear Cheryl, Oh I am so grateful to the Lord that He brought you encouragement here today. He knows just how to bring us strength to keep walking on His path, doesn’t He? You are in my prayers today dear sister! Love & Hugs to you!
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So wise and wonderful. Heading over to finish reading.
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Dear Michele,
Thank you for your sweet comments here. Blessings to you my friend!
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Dear Bettie, although I wanted to read your words at the weekend I really couldn’t manage it. But God… knew just when I would be comforted and helped most. I have left a fuller comment on Lisa’s site but I just wanted to say how thankful I am for this lovely post and how much it has blessed and encouraged me today. Thank you! Love and hugs. xoxo
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Dear Joy, Oh how beautiful of the Lord! I just left a comment on your post about finding REST in God’s timing and how your words brought that home to me today. Our Lord is so perfect in all His ways, isn’t He? I am so blessed and thankful that you found encouragement here today my sweet friend! You bring such encouragement to me–our Lord covers us there with His grace! Love and Hugs to you too! xoxo
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Dear Bettie, we are getting plenty of hints about God’s perfect timing, aren’t we?! Yes, “our Lord is so perfect in all His ways” and so gracious to us when we might miss what He is doing in the background of our lives. It all comes down to trust in the end, doesn’t it? But oh how hard it can be when we hit delay and derailment of our goals and plans! It’s as if God whispers, “are you trusting Me for this or are you trusting in yourself?” I’m always blessed and encouraged by the words you write. It’s a joy to see you sharing at Lisa’s site. xoxo 💜
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Dear Joy, Oh, yes, you are so right, “It all comes down to trust in the end, doesn’t it?” He is so good to take the reigns out of our hands when we have grabbed them back! I know that I need His grace and help there so much. It’s so hard when the forced stillness settles around like a fog, but even then it is His grace that allows me to slow and wait for Him once again. Thank you for your love and understanding dear friend! *Hugs!*
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Bettie, I love reading how God worked in your family. I left a short comment at the other site. I’m so glad you have been sensitive to God’s leading and working and that he has drawn you close. I’m so glad He loves us and carries us through each and every day. With or without trials he is with us. Love and hugs to you! xo
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Dear Gayl,
Isn’t the love of God so near and wonderful to us? He truly is with us in and out of the trials. I am so thankful that we can pray for each other, and ask the Lord to lead us closer to Himself. You are in my prayers tonight, Dear Friend! Love and Hugs to you! xoxo
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