Dear A Lady’s Address,
This subject is actually something that has played a huge role in my life. For the first 23 years of my life I was at one church and understood one way of doing things. But in September of my 23-year, God clearly showed me that I needed to change my address and the people that I was constantly surrounded by so that I could grow closer to him in a more personal way.
Now my church and the people there were not bad people. They were just not the best for me when it came to helping in my spiritual walk. The church was a mega church with thousands of people, which makes it really hard to counsel and know everyone’s needs. That’s why there were rules and standards set up, to protect the people of the church. It was just that I couldn’t completely conform to some of the standards they required us to follow, which affected how people looked and treated me. I didn’t fit into the mold that they had set and considered the picture of “spirituality”. Ok, that sounds harsh, but stay with me. When certain standards are not met, they need to be addressed and the person should be confronted on it in a spiritual way. But with me, those standards set where requiring me to become someone else which I knew God didn’t want.
Over time, I realized that God was showing me that He had something else in mind for my life. He slowly began shutting doors at my work and church, leaving me with the wonderful opportunity to move to a different state to be a part of a small country church in Northern Minnesota.
A lot of times people feel God moving them from a certain job or town, but for me it was an entire 2 states away from where I was born, almost in Canada. The big question we have to ask ourselves is “Are we open to a change that may benefit our spiritual growth even if it is moving us from everything we know?”
Ruth left her home seeking to stimulate her spiritual growth.
Changing churches, towns, jobs, etc. is not wrong if you are genuinely seeking to follow and grow in your walk with God. It also isn’t an easy thing you can decide to do randomly. God needs to be the one to show you to make those huge life changing decisions.
Moving changed my life for the better. It took time, but I have learned so much and now have wonderful friends that encourage me to keep growing in my faith and stand strong on my spiritual convictions. I am slowly becoming the woman I believe God designed me to be, not just trying to fit into a “mold” set up by man. I am an individual that wants to grow to become more like God in a personal way.
Changing my address was the best thing that ever happened to me. It may not be what God guides you to do, but I believe having the willingness to do it is just as important. The key is to listen for God’s guidance and then obey, no matter what it is.
Signing off,
Tami