ROOTED

When we pull up our roots and make a move, we often miss the people, places and things we leave behind. But, we can always stayed rooted with God.

Several years ago, my husband and I moved to Chicago. We were leaving the only home we had known together, and, although we were excited about the opportunities, moving was a gigantic leap.

We found a place in a beautiful little suburb. Our house had a large, wooded lot with the trees turning gorgeous colors in the fall. The village center was within walking distance, complete with a Starbucks, dry cleaners, hair salon, ice cream parlor, diner with amazing breakfast, and an Italian restaurant. We could also walk to catch the train to downtown Chicago, which my husband did daily for work. Sounds great, doesn’t it

The problem was, almost every moment I was there, I was missing what we had left behind. My friends, our church, all the familiar places we would go. I would constantly wish I was back “home.” Something inside me refused to let go and fully enjoy the beauty and opportunities that surrounded me.

After just 2 years, we ended up moving back to Texas. That is when regrets emerged in my mind. Moving back meant stepping back into all the responsibilities we had before, and then some! I was thankful to be back, but I wish I had appreciated the time I had away and allowed myself to soak in the freedoms and blessings of those moments. Thankfully, I stayed connected to God, and He was with me all the time.

keep rooted in god

No matter where we go, we can always keep rooted in God. Accept where ever you are, even if it doesn’t seem like the best location. Allow God to work in that place, in you. Addresses may change, but God is always with us.

Ephesians 3:14-20 instructs us: “My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”