God Is There

God Is There

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8

Like anyone else, I have experienced hard times in my life—the death of a grandparent, personal struggles, and times of meager living when my husband was in college. But one of the hardest unexpected challenges came after we moved two thousand miles for my husband’s job. We formerly lived in a community we loved, and we had a wonderful church and great friends. Even though I had a few friends waiting in our new location, starting over was harder than I had thought it would be. I missed familiar places, familiar people.

While some Amish live in the same community their whole lives, others move to new communities. Sometimes they do so to be closer to other family members or to find land. Lovina Eicher describes her family’s preparation for a big move:

It’s going to take a lot of packing up with six children. Sisters Verena and Susan bought a house just around the corner from ours in Michigan, so they’ll be going with us. We are excited that they found something that close to us.

We will regret pulling the children out of this school they attend now, but after visiting their new school, we were very pleased and the girls are less nervous now about moving. Everyone was very nice and helpful. There will be many memories to leave behind here in Indiana, but it’s a new beginning for us.

Unlike Abraham—whom God directed to leave his country—we usually have a good idea of where we’re going. But like Abraham, we also find differences in new places, sometimes even a different culture. We need to learn the lay of the land and make new friends.

When we feel displaced amid all the newness, we can remember the words of Malachi 3:6: “I am the LORD, and I do not change.” When you’re uncertain about where your journey is leading, know that God is already there. He’s waiting in the good land He’s already prepared.

Dear heavenly Father, I thank You that nowhere I can go on earth is without Your presence. I’m so grateful for Your constant care for me.