Sixteen years ago, my husband and I relocated from Austin, Texas, to mid-Missouri. Relocate: what a word! “Re” is a prefix which means “again”. Relocating is locating again, and that doesn’t just pertain to a house, but locating again a grocery store, a doctor, friends, a church, activities, and even the way around town. It can be totally disorientating. So why did we make the move? We felt God calling us into the move.

Moving to a new place was a big decision. Kevin and I prayed and talked about the potential move. There were many aspects that didn’t make sense, logically. But on the other hand, there were several aspects we couldn’t ignore. As we began to step into the process of relocating, we were amazed at how God provided. A friend of ours encouraged us to journal about the experience, and I wish we had. There were many “but God” moments. Not everything was easy or went smoothly, but God’s hand guided us in His timing into this new place.

Stepping into new places can be exciting and it also can be unsettling. That unsettling feeling, better identified as fear, can keep us from entering new spaces. Have you ever noticed though, that fear and anxiety are at their height before an event occurs? Whether it’s getting a shot, attending an event, or starting something new, fear climaxes in the anticipation of change. Once the change begins, fear loses its hold.

Fear is not a tool of our God. Fear is a tool of our enemy. Our God calls us into new spaces, but with that call He equips and provides peace. For example, after the crucifixion the disciples hid away together huddled behind locked doors. They were afraid. Christ met them in that place and called them into a new space.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-22 NIV

Jesus was sending them out to new places, but with that call He provided His peace and the power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were not seeking something new. On the contrary, they were hiding! All the Spirit needs is a willing heart, one open to receiving His call and His peace. He will provide the rest.

The Bible is filled with accounts of people stepping into new spaces. They all were unqualified and uncertain. Think of Noah building a ridiculously gigantic boat, Moses facing the might of Egypt and Pharoah, Joshua entering an unknown land, Abraham and Ruth leaving their homelands and families, Esther confronting the king, and the list goes on. It doesn’t have to make logical sense. God took willing hearts with their uncertainties, and equipped them for His task.

The problem comes when we are unwilling. We enjoy comfort and don’t like the idea of change. I sincerely believe comfort can be another tool of our enemy. He uses it as a trap. Consider the Israelites in the land of Egypt. They stayed long after the famine was over. They had a pretty good thing going there. Why leave? With time, they became more established (comfortable) and grew in number making it more difficult to return. Finally, they found themselves in bondage to the Egyptians, completely unable to leave on their own.

The call into something new usually includes something that is outside our comfort zone. God wants us to stretch and grow. We can’t do that in complacency. No, He pushes us forward, beyond ourselves. He calls us into deeper levels of trust. We are able to step out into new areas because He has shown Himself to be trustworthy in past experiences.

I have heard from many people over the past several weeks about their struggles with stepping into new spaces. This is something I’m currently dealing with myself. For some it’s health related, for others it’s career or ministry related, and even others it’s regarding relationships. You don’t have to know how God is going to work everything out. Just keep moving forward with a willing heart. God will equip you for His call.

Scriptures for this week:
Joshua 1:1-9
Colossians 3:9-17
Ephesians 2:14-22
Ephesians 4:22-24
2 Corinthians 5:16-20