When Bob took a job in another state in 2001, we had a decision to make. How many homes do we need? – Do we really want to live in two states? Do we want to move?
When you are at a fork in the road, do you make the decision with or without God?
When God initially impressed it upon my heart that He wanted my husband to take the job in southern Maryland, tears flowed as I decided to surrender to His will.
At one point, I exclaimed, “God doesn’t care if I am happy or not!” However, I knew that God had the bigger picture in mind, and He cared. What I really meant was that He is not going to change His plan to suit my short-term happiness.
Although God had led Bob to take the job, and impressed the same upon my heart, God never said for us to move. We chose to live in two states until God told us differently.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psalms 37:23
Over the years, I have wondered what my life would have been like if we had moved. We may not have made it back to North Carolina. So much of my journey –people who I met and learned from along the way – would have been different. I may not have ever written a book.
What if Bob had not taken that job? What if we had not lived in two states? That was the year that I really spent building DrewsAnimals.com. For me, Maryland was a bit of a sabbatical. It took me away from my current routine, and imposed upon me time free from other commitments.
Living in two states was truly a blessing. Bob’s hours at work were shorter. Thus, he had more free time that year too. Even though we lived in two states, our family had more time together than we had ever had.
Sometimes what looks like a bad thing to us is really a blessing in disguise.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Don’t forget that last part – according to his purpose. We are not really all that qualified to say when something is good or bad. We cannot see the big picture. We cannot know the mind of God.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to remember that even those things – which we would say turned out bad or even heartbreaking – were allowed or placed in our lives or the lives of others by God. God is often working on something bigger than we can see. His purpose may draw another to salvation or may draw us closer to Him. When we think of Romans 8:28, we need to remember it’s according to His purpose – not ours.