Embracing New Beginnings: A Journey of Faith and Family

Navigating Life's Changes with Grace

New schools.

New town.

New house.

New jobs.

New church.

New car.

In this season of “new,” it can be a little overwhelming. Well, scratch that. It’s VERY overwhelming! As we stand in the moments we prayed for, I don’t want to forget to thank God for bringing us this far.

A Leap of Faith

In February, I felt the Lord calling me to step out of my teaching role and stay home with my littles. At first, I said, “Absolutely not!” All I could think about were money, bills, and my career. I desperately wanted to be home with my kids every day, but fear crept in. I worried that the Lord wouldn’t provide for us. Nonetheless, I put in my resignation and accepted that I would be “unemployed” for the first time since I was 16. Just when I started to feel good about that decision, God added more to the plan.

The Big Move

It turns out the Lord had been working on both my heart and Drew’s separately for a BIG move. Truth be told, we hadn’t brought it up to each other because we were scared. I had just resigned from my job. We would have to sell our house and buy a new one. The kids would need to start new schools. It didn’t make sense. At least not to us. At least not yet.

But we said yes. Without a job lined up, Drew resigned from his position in Russellville and began applying for jobs in Van Buren. We listed our home on the market. We told friends and family. We told our church. And we waited.

And waited...

And waited...

Two months later, we still had NO jobs, NO leads on our house, and NO new house. Nothing. We started to doubt, big time. Did we hear God wrong? Surely He would have provided by now, right? We were nervous, but we kept praying.

Trusting the Process

As the school year ended, we still didn’t have any answers. We were unemployed with five mouths to feed, and honestly, we were scared. But then, things started moving. Drew received not ONE but TWO job offers in a matter of days. We thanked God for showing us our next steps and kept praying.

But every single house we almost bought fell through. We started compromising. Maybe we had heard God wrong. Maybe we were supposed to rent? Maybe Drew needed to commute?

But we don’t serve a God of half-answered prayers. Seemingly overnight, with just THREE weeks until we needed to be down there, He provided us a home. Through Facebook Marketplace, no less! He guided us to a home listed for rent in a cute little Van Buren neighborhood. When we went to look at it, we connected with the owners and found we had so much in common. We asked if they’d be willing to sell it, and surprisingly, they said yes! (But not surprising to God).

Within 48 hours, we had an accepted offer, with a closing date set for the day before Drew started his new job. I called the first person I thought of to rent our house, knowing it would be a blessing to them. And they said yes!

From Fear to Faith

We went from fearful and anxious to resting in the Lord's providence within minutes. As my family stood during worship at the church I attended as a teenager, I leaned over to my husband and asked, “Did you ever think we’d make it here?” Because truly, months and months of worry just for the Lord to have had a plan the whole time.

Despite Him providing over and over again, my flesh still had doubts. I’m in utter awe of the Lord using our obedience and putting all the pieces together so seamlessly. Oh, how sweet it is to be in our hometown, with my kids sharing the same teachers as me and my husband, and being so close to family.

A Verse to Hold On To

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19

In this journey, I’ve learned that faith often requires us to step into the unknown. It’s about trusting God’s timing and His plans, even when they don’t align with our own. I encourage you to embrace the new beginnings in your life. They may be daunting, but they can also lead to incredible blessings.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on our own journeys. Have you faced a big change recently? How did you navigate it? Remember, you’re not alone. God is with you every step of the way.

As we continue to grow and change, let’s hold on to the promise that God will provide for our needs. He is faithful, and His plans are always for our good.

Conclusion: Embracing New Beginnings

As we embrace these new beginnings, let’s do so with open hearts and minds. Let’s celebrate the journey and trust that God has a beautiful plan for each of us.

So, here’s to new adventures, new challenges, and new blessings! May we walk forward in faith, knowing that God is always with us.