Leaving When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going
Recently, my family entered into a new season when, after 14 years of serving in ministry at our church, my husband and I felt the call to transition away. We did not enter into this decision lightly. There was a long period of prayer and seeking God to ensure not only that we were making the right decision, but also that as we transitioned out, the process would be God honoring. Full disclaimer, we did not leave because of church drama or scandal. We love the church family that we got to do life with. We are grateful for the growth that we have experienced in the past 14 years. We left because we believed God was leading us to do so. We left when it would have been easier to stay and that made it all the more difficult.
As people learned of our impending departure, many came to us asking about our plans, which is totally natural. Where are we going? Are we starting a church? Do we have a church selected that we will start attending? Are we moving away? Perhaps more challenging than telling everyone that we were leaving was following it with the fact that we didn’t - and still do not - have a clue where we are going. God gave us the clear instruction that it was time to leave but to where, well, that’s not yet so clear. Though there is clear Biblical precedence for this (I am looking at you Abraham and Sarah), actually walking away from the familiar and trusting that God will reveal the destination in His divine timing rails against our human desire for predictability and control.
I am sharing three prayers that I have had on repeat before God and what I have been processing from these prayers. Maybe you will find them helpful when (not if amiga - when!) you encounter your own season of the unknown.
1. God, help me follow your instruction over people’s opinions. People may have some really great sounding ideas on what you should be doing because of the gifting/potential they see in you or for myriad other reasons. It’s tempting to move in a direction because of the many well meaning, logical and perhaps even prophetic voices that beckon you that way. For my husband and I, we must choose the faintest whisper from God over the cacophony of people’s opinions. A word that someone has for us can be a confirmation of what God has already said, but it can never be in and of itself the defining factor for our decisions. To hear a whisper above the noise requires honing in on the voice that matters. The sheep know the shepherd's voice because of continual proximity and relationship. Our fellowship and worship of God must be the priority, regardless of whether we hear what we want when we want to hear it.
2. God, thank you that nothing is wasted with you. Instead of focusing on what may be next, we can choose to pay attention to where we are. God is intentional and created us with purpose. Purpose does not equate to our definition of success or arrival at a goal. Purpose is found in everyday interactions, in simple moments, in the ordinary. Waiting does not mean we are not living. We live out our purpose whenever we choose to invite God into where we are. What is God calling you to right now? For me, it’s a season of reflection, abiding and rest. I don’t want to miss what I can glean from where I am right now because I am constantly resisting it in pursuit of what is next.
3. God, help me to trust you with the unexpected. It is very possible that God has something outside of the realm of what I have imagined. It’s pretty much guaranteed that whatever is on the way will require us to stretch, deepen our faith and embrace discomfort. How do I count that as joy? How do I not experience dread at what may be? There are so many what if’s that I have mulled over but not one of them has been a scenario where God is not with us. That makes all of the difference. I can trust God with whatever may come because He will be there, continually guiding and loving us dearly.
Our lives can be full to the brim with change but I am so grateful that God is the one constant. It’s that consistency that frees me to be fully present, trusting and content with wherever I am. Please keep us in prayer through this transitional period and let me know how I can be praying for you.
Abrazos,
Lydia
