“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand?” (Matthew 11:15 NLT)
Having served the church for more than seven years, and having been hurt in ways I wouldn’t have imagined, it felt “right” that I should leave when I got another offer. To me it was opportunity knocking, but it turned out that it was Satan, but I didn’t realize it until it was too late.
Whether you’re in a season of leaving or pursuing a new “opportunity,” my word of caution would be, seek the Lord with your whole heart, mind, soul, and body. If you’re leaving something ask yourself WHY? “Am I running to something or running from something? Have I been hurt and the thought of staying is tormenting or is this new opportunity just too good to pass up?”
May I share a word from the Lord? If you’re running “from” something, whatever you’re running from will follow you. Your best option is to settle whatever you’re running from, wait for the Lord’s release, then move forward with the Lord’s blessing. To move forward without a clear word from the Lord and/or without His express permission, is to invite trouble, often the same trouble compounded that you’re seeking to escape.
And, if you’re running “to” something, whether a new position, job, or person, weigh carefully, thoughtfully, and with an open heart and mind whether you have completed your assignment where you are, and whether what/who you’re running to will lead you closer to the Lord or push you further away.
Most often it’s not either or, but both and. We’re leaving something to go to something else, the issue isn’t what we’re doing as much as why we’re doing it. A rule of thumb is, if you’re following your heart, i.e. letting your emotions lead you, you’re probably heading toward disaster and disappointment. If you’ve had a clear word from the Lord, confirm it in a couple of ways.
First, the Lord will never prompt you to do something that’s not confirmed in His Word. If you’re trying to decide which car to steal or which person to swindle, that’s not the Lord. If you’re seeking with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, to find and do God’s will, share your opportunity with at least three trusted friends who know you and the Lord well.
Moving to Las Vegas wasn’t a quick decision. We had a church we loved and many godly friends with whom we shared our thoughts about moving. We weighed the proverbial “pros” and “cons” and decided we were probably idiots for leaving Texas, but the Lord cleared the way and we’ve found nothing but positive results since being here.
When we visited, we thought it would be the last place on earth we’d want to live, but almost from day one – a day in September and the temperature was 115 degrees – we’ve loved living here. The Lord has planted us in a neighborhood full of people we’ve learned to love and appreciate, many of whom desperately need Jesus, but best of all, He’s planted us in a church that is sometimes a lot like heaven on earth. The people are genuine, loving, kind, caring, and a whole lot like Jesus in many respects.
The Pastors are real men with real needs, but with real faith that not only makes them believable, but lovable. They help us navigate the real roads of life and prepare us for knowing when we should be going to or running from, teaching us not from things they’ve learned in books, but from Jesus.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 