Home in Him

For those of you who are in your mid twenties—or who remember those years—you know they can be exciting, busy, and at times challenging. It’s a season of discovering who you are and deciding where you want to build a life and put down roots. 

I’ve called a few places home over the years. Maybe not as many as some of you, but every time it’s been time to leave, I’ve felt a deep sense of sadness. Each home has shaped me in different ways. It holds memories of the person I was becoming, the growth I experienced, and the relationships that made those places feel like home. In the end, it’s often the feeling of being uprooted and having to start all over again that makes leaving the hardest. 

Over the past few months, I have felt God gently nudging me to leave the place I currently call home and move back to my hometown. The place I will be leaving is a place I deeply love, where I have found a sense of belonging, purpose, and accountability. It has been the place where I have experienced substantial personal and spiritual growth. Some days, I feel more at home here than I do in the place where I grew up. 

As the move gets closer, I’ve found myself wrestling with thoughts like, What if I don’t experience God’s presence there the way I do here? What if I feel like an outsider and struggle to find community? There have been plenty of “what ifs” and fears, but they’ve also become opportunities to trust the Lord. 

Looking back, it’s funny that I had no idea I would be moving this year, yet one of the recurring themes the Lord has been impressing on my heart has been the meaning of home. He’s been reminding me that home isn’t ultimately a place—home is found in Him. My true home is wherever He is, as He makes His dwelling in me and invites me to make my home in Him. 

“Anyone who loves Me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them.” John 14:23 

That truth has become an anchor as I prepare to step into the unknown, leaving behind my beloved friends, apartment, church, and job. 

Psalm 139 has also been a constant reminder that God’s presence is not confined to a place. 

"You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me...Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there". 

Psalm 139:5–8 

The same God who has been faithful in my current home will be just as present in the next. His presence isn’t confined to a building or house, and wherever He leads me, He will also go before me. That truth gives me confidence to step into this new season, knowing that while my address may change, His faithfulness never will.

Reflection:

How would you respond if God called you to move to a new city or state?

In what ways can you prepare your hearts today so that you are open to God’s calling?

If you need prayer or encouragement please reach out to us at: weekendofrenewal@gmail.com 

Women of Renewal is here to pray and support you.