We have been on a "staycation". It was wonderful to be off work and on a "normal" schedule for the past month. We relaxed and got a lot of jobs done around our home. We saw friends and hung out alone. We spent time with our kids and found out our son and daughter in love are moving to Portland, Oregon this upcoming week.
And. The little three letter word here in these lines I've written where everything becomes so very layered. The little word that connects so many different situations and feelings. The word that delivers a connection between one thought or action and another, although they can be completely unrelated or opposed in nature or feelings.
For example, we rested on vacation because we were on a totally different schedule and didn't HAVE to be anywhere except where we chose to be. By virtue of that non commitment, we were relaxed. On the other hand, we did tons of organizing, deep cleaning, and getting rid of stuff , which was actually a ton of work. Therefore relaxed and working hard co-existed in our lives. And.
We have been praying for years for our son and his wife that God would lead them and do in them what He wants to do to make them who He's called them to be. We knew they were interested in possibly living somewhere else before they totally settle down and raise a family...if they do.We knew Portland was a place that they have visited and loved. We knew this was a total possibility and probability and we are struggling in our hearts with it. And.
We are excited for them,and sad at our longing for them to be near. We are confident of Gods answered prayer and yet leery of carrying the cross He has set before us.We are joy filled at the beginnings this may offer them,and less joyous at the ending this represents in our proximity to them. We are peaceful because we believe our God hears us and answers our prayers, and every door they have walked near has blown open and yet there is a part of us that has a tummy ache because we know "goodbye" is looming ahead and that is a door we do not want to open. And.
Isaiah 43 : 2 says "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire , you will not be burned., nor will the flames hurt you."
God did not use the conjunction and in His Word, in the above verse, but He clearly understands the concept of opposing ideas.
It is indeed possible and probable that life will often present us with these kinds of dualities. He is not ignorant to the feelings we may have, but He is above and beyond those feelings. He is our Refuge and our Hiding Place. He offers us His peace and it is like no other comfort known to man. Beyond our understanding or imagining, yet able to fill us completely in the ways only our Creator would know.
For He states in His Word in Philippians 4: 6 and 7 the following ; " Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your requests known to God. And God's peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is), that peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ."
It is in this season of all of our lives that we will walk in the reality of the word and. Our Father loves us and He has a plan for us and only He knows the days and seasons of each of our lives. May His will be done and may we glorify Him throughout this "adventure", as my beloved kids call this move.
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