MISSING HOME

Sometimes God leads His people away from the place they call home.

The LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people, and your father's household to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1).

Abram went, as the LORD told him to.

Yes, there were promises of incomparable blessing from a God who fulfills what He promises. He had "Abraham" in store for this Abram, and all the blessing that came with it. No small thing! But I wonder if it was difficult for Abram to "leave and go." I figured it must have been. I know how it feels. I've "left and gone" a time or two.

The first time, it was like "Thea, go from your town, your people, and your father's household to the place I have made for you. Sure, you'll know nobody. But I will be with you." That place was Boston. I went out of obedience from a place that was tremendously dear to me to a place that could not have been less familiar. Yes, I met my husband there--an unmatched blessing that came from following where He led me.

The second time, I was living back in my hometown, this time with my husband I'd met in Boston. We loved our life there. I did NOT want to leave that dear California town for anything, ever again. But just two years later, there it was--the leading to go: "Thea, go--again--from your town, your people, and the place where you grew up to the place I have made for you." This time that place was Atlanta, and this time I went a little bit more "kicking and screaming." But there was nothing BUT to follow where He was leading, and I knew it. I knew it! It's like when Abraham's servant showed up to Rebekah's home to ask if he could take Rebekah home to be Isaac's wife, and her family said, "This is from the LORD--we can say nothing from you one way or the other." It's like it would be futile to do anything but respond with obedience when the leading was so clearly from the LORD. I had this very conversation with someone who tried to talk me out of moving to Atlanta. I felt like I had no choice but to go. I mean, yes, I did have a choice--I could have stayed put--but God had so clearly made His will known in us moving that it would have been ridiculous to choose anything but to go.

We've been here for 8 years, and we've been really, really blessed. Truly, His mercies have been new--here--every single morning. But I am tremendously homesick. Every day for weeks I have checked airfare, but the rates are just ridiculously high. I know it's not the time to go home, but it doesn't make it any less of a bitter pill to swallow. I miss home badly, and it feels way too far away right now.

Good heavens, how did Abram do it?!? Surely he pined for his own land. He must have longed for the place he'd known as home.

I wonder what he missed the most. Maybe he had a hilarious grandfather back at home like I do. Maybe he missed his dear friends. I don't know what he missed, but I'm sure he had something.

I wish God's plan included us being close to family. Apparently it just doesn't. That is TOUGH for me!! Really!

But I am called to His will, not my want.

Where You go, I'll go

Where You stay, I'll stay

When You move, I'll move

I will follow You

All Your ways are good

All Your ways are sure

I will trust in You alone

Higher than my side

High above my life

I will trust in You alone

Where You go I'll go

Where You stay, I'll stay

When You move, I'll move

I will follow You

Whom You love, I'll love

How You serve, I'll serve

If this life I lose

I will follow You.

CHRIS TOMLIN * I WILL FOLLOW

LORD, please comfort my pining heart. I know there's a cost that comes with following You, and I would rather be walking in obedience far away from the home I know than to be there and missing out on what You want for me. Still, it's tough. My heart is really hurting! Pour out comfort. I need assurance that You have brought us to this place for such a time as this.