Obedience

Oh-beeeeee-deeee-ents

No matter how you try to say it it’s not a pleasant word – or rather, the implications of the word can often be unpleasant.

So why the focus on that 4 syllable word you may ask? Those of you who follow me on twitter or on facebook will know that I received a phone call last Thursday whilst on holiday with my family (more of that in another post!) – the subject of that call was to notify me that due to a failure to get funding the company were making a bunch of us redundant with immediate effect, and that included me.

Not really the most pleasant of calls to receive on holiday but I can honestly say that we still managed to enjoy the rest of the break without letting it cast a shadow on our enjoyment – but that’s a sideline…

Obedience… that’s the reason I’m blogging.

About 18 months ago we got the real sense that God was telling us to prepare to move to Peterborough. It was a challenge for us all as I had a huge heart for Stamford and Mrs H has never lived in a City, and the kids have never moved really. But we were obedient; we prayed, accepted and even got as far as packing boxes in preparation. However, when we started to look for homes etc the doors kept slamming closed on us and so we pushed the pause button.

Earlier this year we started to get the strongest direction from God that he was going to shake us up and move us on – but not to Peterborough. We even got confirmation from several sources who were not aware of anything that was going on, especially as we hadn’t said anything at this point. We also started to see that last year wasn’t about moving to Peterborough but it was rather about were we WILLING to move to Peterborough, and preparing us to move from our home.

Believe me when I say that what we went through last year was not easy in the least bit – it was a major process for us all and really shook us up but going through that has made it easier to accept what God’s been saying to us this year.

So when He started to forewarn us of the big shake-up we sat up, took note and kept our eyes open for where and when never expecting the trigger to be me being made redundant.

And that’s where the obedience comes in. The rubber now has to, literally, hit the road.

If there was ever a good time to look at relocating and moving to a new city, town, village or hamlet – it’s now. There’s no job tying us down and it widens the whole job search process.

But whilst obedience has it’s rewards, it also has it’s price. We’re having to prepare to up roots, say farewell to friends and family, deal with the normal trauma kids go through when moving and then go to wherever God sends us.

Not easy.

The thing we need to hold on to is that God, our Father, only wants what is best for us. We have no guarantee of what lies ahead, other than that simple truth.

Oh, and then there’s Jeremiah 29:11-13 Winking smile

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

It makes the whole “Anthem for a season” post even more appropriate.

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