Sometimes God says go.
We are 40 weeks into writing the Book of Hope together but for me, this week might as well be the first. It’s a new beginning.
On September 10, 2020, three weeks after my son’s first birthday, it was a normal day. At least a day of new normal, working from home balancing a full-time career and childcare in the midst of the pandemic, but yet, it was a normal day. Teeth were brushed, the sun was shining and bellies full.
However, by the end of the day everything in my world fell out of harmony. Nothing made sense. Nothing in alignment. That is the day I learned that my husband has advanced stage cancer.
How did I react? A few days later, I asked if he would be open to moving to Nashville.
That doesn’t seem to fit together, right? Why would I bring up a giant life change in the middle of a crisis? Shouldn’t my thoughts be on the many, many questions of next steps? And don’t get me wrong. They were. My mind was racing but something else happened, too.
God told me to go.
There are countless examples of people getting God’s vision in the Bible: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Esther, Jonah, Ruth, Micah, Mary, etc. and as a very visual person, for me those are clear to understand. Receiving God’s vision, what a wonderful thing! But this felt subtle. I wondered, is the stress making me irrational? Am I going crazy?
Yet, it was clear. It was peace in the midst of enormous chaos and I knew. I knew that for one chapter to end, I would have to open my eyes to a new one.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
James 1:5 NIV
In the midst of disruption, fear and anger my quiet time became filled with war room style prayer for healing and an almost eerie stillness of prayer for wisdom to know what would come next.
Why Nashville? We had already moved cross-country once. Five years prior we made our way to the awe inspiring shores of southern California from the farmlands of central Indiana. And I loved it. So why would God put this in my heart? Why would He ask me to go?
Sure, we both have deep roots in music and Nashville is a great place to be but that wasn’t it. It was deeper than that.
Then it hit me.
God is telling me to go. That is enough.
After 319 days of treatment, we packed up and moved to Nashville, Tennessee just one week ago. Following a year of praying for harmony to be restored and the wisdom to step into God’s vision for our journey, we arrived on Harmony Lane. Yes, that is the actual street sign giving me a gentle smile as I glance out my window.
I will forever be grateful for the clarity and while I do not know what the future holds, I find Reason to Hope in the harmony of the journey.
I am praising God in every leaf, every smile of southern hospitality and the sweet smell of rain soaked renewal.
Writing the Book of Hope
We’ve been writing the Book of Hope together for 40 weeks now, but it’s never too late to join us. Here’s all you need to get started.
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