Today is Thanksgiving Day. We really have many things for which we are grateful. Things are not easy—far from it. I do think they are better with God. If I’m really honest, I get a little sad when I think about those who do not pray. Prayer is a beautiful and wonderful thing. My faith helps me to know that God is in control. Even though I struggle at times, it’s a true blessing to know I can seek God first in prayer.
There are plenty of times in which I try to do things my way, sure. I always think of the scene in Bruce Almighty in which Jim Carey asks God for a sign. He gets them, all right; they just don’t look like as he expected. Things often work like that.
It was a year ago in November that I had my first and second interviews for work. Last year at this time, all I could think about was finances and work. There was a lot of talk and possibilities; things just took a while to work themselves out. I did my best to remain positive, faithful, and trusting. Still, it was hard. I have heard times described as seasons, and I like that. It is a great reminder that it will not be however it is right now forever.
I reflect over the past several years and think about all that has happened. We have tallied just short of 9,000 miles of moving. We have had difficulties with family members and friendships. We moved away from friends who became family. We moved away from family. None of these things are easy. For our family, however, they were right.
I’ve always had a restlessness. Sometimes, that’s a good thing. Sometimes, it has pushed me to do more. Sometimes, it has pushed us to move. I get it when I hear pastors disregard feelings. I do. Yet, for me, I credit my feelings to God. I truly believe He uses different methodologies to speak to us in different ways. For me, most of the time, it’s when I’m quiet—usually the early hours of the morning. I’m still enough, quiet enough, and more receptive. I think another way God communicates with me is through feelings.
We prayed about moving out of Mississippi. While there are a lot of great places and people here (I’m writing this in Mississippi), Mississippi never really felt like home. So, we began sorting through possible landing spots. Montana was it. We had a job lined up for me, and we sold our things, rented a truck, and said some hard “see-you-next-times.”
Things went better in Mississippi the second time around. Things weren’t easy, and there was still a restlessness. Within 4 years, we began praying again about moving back to Montana. When I heard Crowder sing, “Oh, wanderer, come home; you’re never too far,” I knew we were moving back to Montana. In May 2015, I had worked lined up and we were off.
Things did not have the same kind of magic in Montana the second time around. We were intentionally there to be transplanted missionary types. We knew we could do this kind of move because we’ve done it before. We proved that the first move. We pretty much only had ourselves; we managed. This time, we were more intentional with our faith, about our intentions. It simply did not go as we planned. There’s a great verse, Proverbs 16:9, that says man makes plans but God directs his steps. Yep!
Around October 2016, my wife and I began having discussions once again about moving. Usually, when we are on the same page, we pay attention. We had ideas but weren’t sure where we would land this time around. We sent out applications to different places, mostly Tennessee. My wife kept bringing up Knoxville.
I research moves most of the time. This was no different. I did not like what I was learning about Knoxville. This time—and I don’t necessarily recommend it—we did not have landing spots. My wife had a second interview lined up at UTK. I had an interview at a community college on the same day. With the interviews scheduled on August 23rd, we made the choice to move.
I know it doesn’t make sense. It was not easy at all, but here’s why. In the South, school starts much sooner than it does in Montana. By the time of these interviews, school was in session a couple of weeks already. We knew for sure we were leaving Montana and moving to the South. We just weren’t sure yet where. We could have spent approximately the amount of a moving truck flying my wife out there, renting a car, and getting a hotel room for the interview since mine was scheduled by phone. We really did not have much extra. Knowing we were moving and knowing school started sooner, we made the leap to move.
We temporarily landed at my mom’s in Mississippi. My wife and I drove up to the interviews and waited. Neither of us knew anything immediately. Housing was attached to having a job even though we would have been able to pay the first and last month’s rent. With our belongings packed into the moving truck, we waited 4 days, re-renting the truck for $100 a day until we learned of the decision. Praise God, we finally learned that my wife landed the job. With that news, we took off to Knoxville and had living arrangements for 6 months.
We’ve been in Tennessee already more than a year. In a few short days, I will be at my job for a year. I knew, if it were up to me, I’d love to work at a community college again. Thankfully (and I can say this now), the first interview went poorly and was a part of 4 months of unemployment. My current job has been a huge blessing. I feel like I fit, and more importantly, I’ve made some great friends through work.
We all have grown. Our faith is stronger. We landed at a great church full of loving people. Recently, we felt led to attend one closer to home. God showed up at both places. One was small and growing, and one was more of a mid-sized church. Soon, we’ll join it. We’ve jumped in and tried to find places where we fit and where we can volunteer. We’ve made some friends and enjoy our life group. We are at home in East Tennessee. We’re a day-drive away from family and friends. I don’t experience the restlessness I’ve felt throughout my life. The big reason I think for that is that we continue to put our rest in Jesus.
When you calculate the number of miles we’ve moved, lots of things could have gone wrong. They didn’t. God opened doors for us to meet and work with lots of folks who have become family. He’s still doing it. We’ve reconnected with friends and family, too. God has opened lots of great doors. Thankfully, He’s closed some, too. It’s hard to realize sometimes when you’re in it—when you’re struggling—to be grateful. Through that suffering, we grow closer to Him. My word for 2018 is trust. I can honestly say at this point my trust level for God has grown.
We just returned from Thanksgiving with family and friends. We’ve had a lot of great conversations and a lot of laughs. Things were not all good, however. My family lost two people. It hurts me to see them hurt. During those times, I’m grateful for my faith. I cannot explain it, but I know something good is going to come out of one of those losses. Interestingly, I had a conversation with a family member about that very thing. Things do not always go as we want or expect. It’s hard. I struggle with these things pretty often. But, today, I can say I know God is in control. He provides. I have certainly been restless. Now, I’m grateful to be home, at rest.
Father God, I pray for those who do not know You. I pray for those who do. Lord, help us all be more like You. Help us love You like You love us. Help us love one another like You do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
#pray #loss #restless #friends #family #God #Jesus
dr. jason newcomb 
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