When Following Means Leaving

Sometimes, following Jesus means staying where He has called us. Sometimes, following Jesus means leaving.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” – Genesis 12.1

God calls different people to go to different places and minister in different ways. He called Abram to a different place…He didn’t even tell him where he was going. God just said, “Go.”

It’s always kind of a scary, exciting thing when God says, “Go.” It’s even scarier to answer and obey.

My friends, the Espinosas recently answered the call to Go. Their family of 5 is currently serving in Allendale, SC, one of the poorest areas in South Carolina. They are engaging an entirely different culture with the Gospel and the love of Christ.

My friends, the Osborns answered the call, and are preparing to move to Papua New Guinea. They are moving their family of 5 across the world to help translate the Bible for a people who currently do not have the Bible in their own language.

Both of these families are leaving friends and family here in Greenville because of the call of Christ to follow Him. Their kids are having to leave friends and will have to make friends in an entirely different culture. While they know where they are going geographically, they don’t know all of the steps in front of them.

Here’s what they do know, though: God is faithful.

He who calls you is faithful… - 1 Thessalonians 5.24

…he who promised is faithful. – Hebrews 10.23

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations… - Deuteronomy 7.9

I love that I have friends who model obedience and faith in the Lord. The Osborns and Espinosas are just two examples of the wonderful people God has brought in my life to draw me closer to Him. I love that they push me to greater faith and stronger obedience. I love that they remind me of the sacrifice involved in obedience. As our pastor reminded us this weekend, “Opportunity is always merged with sacrifice.”

Recently I was presented with an opportunity to get involved with a new ministry. It is a wonderful opportunity, and for a few months I tried to fully commit to this ministry without giving up anything. The result was that all of my ministries suffered, as did my sleep. This was not surprising to me. I’ve been here before, so I’m not sure why I expected different results.

I knew that I had to decide which ministry to continue pursuing. I had to drop one. I had to sacrifice. I had to leave. Though it was a difficult decision, I did step down from one ministry. Though “leaving” in this case wasn’t geographic, it was still difficult, and it will mean that at the very least some of my relationships will change.

I would love to wait a year from now to write this post so I could tell you I made the right decision and share with you everything the Lord was doing through this ministry, but that wouldn’t require much faith. Instead, I’m writing about it on the front end, saying that I felt called to take a big step into something and risk much so that I need God to show up. It’s a risk that, if God doesn’t show up, I will look bad. But that’s the idea – that’s how our faith grows.

And I know God will show up, because He is faithful. He may not show up in the box I create for Him or in the way I ask Him to, but He will show up. So a year from now, I may not be writing about every dream I have for this ministry coming true, but I guarantee you I will be able to write about how God grew me and drew me closer to Him. I’ll be able to write about the amazing and unexpected things He did in the lives of others through this ministry. I’ll be able to write about how God brought glory upon Himself through the obedience of His children.

The Osborns and Espinosas will be able to do the same, as well. Because when God says, “Go,” we may not be sure where we’re going, but we can be sure that He is already there.