Moving Away, Moving On, Moving Forward
Merriam-Webster’s
Dictionary defines moving as “changing [a] place or position as relating to the
activity or process of moving to a different place to live or work.”
Have you
ever had to move in one way or another? Most of us will answer an astounding
“YES” to that question. Maybe you have
moved to a new house, a new job, a new spiritual journey, or a new stage of
life.
Just
recently, I encountered moving home to the U.S. after living in Nigeria. I am
in the process of adjusting. Many days I find myself pondering or exploring how
to pick up the pieces left behind; how to console myself when my friends have
moved on in my absence; how to not miss the past; and how to basically get back
into the swing of Western culture.
It is tough
readjusting. While I feel I “deserve” an adjustment phase, it probably doesn’t
help that I am holding on to the past as tightly as children hold on to their
security blankets. I am still thinking of my Lagos church, my Lagos Bible
study, my Lagos apartment, my newly found Lagos friends, The Punch (the best Nigerian newspaper), and even the little
Lagos fabric store at the mall. I miss my Lagos driver and my Lagos housekeeper.
And, I don’t miss them so much for their service as I do for their camaraderie.
And, all this deep stirring in my heart is creating an emotional response that
I am not too proud of.
Maybe you
are experiencing a loss of some kind: a job loss, a painful divorce, or a death
in the family. I have been sitting on my
couch, way more than I should be lately, cradling a pity-party in my heart and
mourning my loss. So, I decided to research how two Bible characters dealt with
moving on – one who did so the wrong way and one who did it the right way. And,
incidentally, both are named SAUL!
In the Old
Testament, King Saul was chosen by the prophet Samuel to be Israel’s first
king. King Saul started out as a righteous man, but he allowed his jealousy to get
the best of him. When David returned from killing Goliath, 1 Samuel 18:7-9
states, “And the women responded as they laughed and frolicked, saying, Saul
has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very angry,
for the saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands,
but to me they have ascribed only thousands. What more can he have but the
kingdom?’ And Saul [jealously] eyed David from that day forward.” Saul’s
problem was he foresaw a “JOB LOSS” and he couldn’t accept that he would have
to move on. Read 1 Samuel 18-31.
The process King Saul embraced in
order NOT TO HAVE TO MOVE ON involved:
-
He
harbored ill-feelings and jealousy;
-
He
tried to kill [David];
-
He
encountered evil spirits;
-
He
became angry;
-
He
actively sought evil;
-
He
lived an inconsistent life towards God;
-
He
sought a medium instead of God;
-
He
committed suicide.
Wouldn’t it
have been a lot easier for King Saul to deal with his ill-feelings and
jealousy? He could then have moved on and accepted God’s will and proceeded to the
next phase of his life gracefully and with God by his side?
Now, let’s look at someone who had to
move on – someone who did it the right way.
In the New Testament, Saul of Tarsus (who later became known
as Paul), a die-hard Jew, moved from being a relentless persecutor of believers
to a saved follower of Jesus Christ. Saul ravaged the church with threats and actually
murdered Christ’s disciples along the way. But one day, on the way to Damascus,
a light shone from heaven and Saul came face to face with Jesus’ voice. He became
a new man in Christ. After his conversion, Paul was without sight, food, and
drink for three days. But as only the Lord can do, He brought Ananias into his
life to encourage him in the Lord. He was baptized, ate, and then was
strengthened. Paul stayed with Jesus’ disciples being trained in
the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ. After his training (and adjustment period),
Paul, moved into proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues and beyond. Read Acts 9.
The process Paul used to get him to
the place of MOVING ON involved:
-
He
embraced his change;
-
He
allowed for time of solitude;
-
He
accepted encouragement;
-
He
strengthened himself by spending time in counseling and training;
-
He
actively involved himself in God’s work.
Now, which
approach seems best to you – King Saul’s or Saul of Tarsus’ approach?
We all go
through transitions in life. Don’t be afraid of the changes in your life. We
get hung up on our changes because we are emotional beings. Sometimes we don’t
like change, while other times, we do. For you, your transition may involve
laughing, smiling, tears, and/or sorrow. We will always have events and
circumstances that will confront us. Moving away, moving on, or moving forward
brings their own unique challenges, hardships, and/or excitement. Let’s try to
use the experiences we face today as a springboard to focus on what is yet to
come in God’s eyes. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for
you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
I think that
what God is telling me from this study personally is, “Patti, don’t be afraid
of the changes in your life. I sent you to Nigeria; and, I just sent you back.
I know what I am doing. Follow your own advice, and DON’T REMOVE ME FROM YOUR
MOVES.”
And
likewise, “Don’t remove God from your moves.” He knows exactly what He is
doing.
Amen.
Moving Away Verse:
For I
know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a
future and a hope. Jeremiah
29:11 ESV
Moving On Verse:
Remember
not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers
in the desert. Isaiah
43:18-19 ESV
Moving Forward Verse:
Trust in
the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal (ISBN 978-1-4627-2578-6)
God, It's Me: 181 Days for Young Adults to Become
Passionate about Prayer and Bible Study (ISBN 978-1-4627-3821-2)
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