Lessons Learned while on an Incredible Journey
My life has literally been an INCREDIBLE JOURNEY! I grew up in one house, one city, one church, surrounded by a constant family and constant friends. Nothing ever changed. Then the JOURNEY began! My journey began in Florida where I grew up……then it moved to Texas….. then to Oregon……then to California……back to Texas…… now to Canada! Each move has covered thousands of miles and taken us to drastically different climates and environments.
Colossians 1:10-11 So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience
I read a quote recently by Davis Bunn. It describes the journey so well. “God’s primary concern is the journey. He desires to draw us to him. We are called home, walking the divine way one tiny step at a time, day after day, all the way to his holy embrace. We must trust him more, through good and bad. We must walk closer. Listen better. Serve him and others with deeper love.”
The journey is about growing in the knowledge of God every day, one step at a time. It is about trusting him more and loving him and others more each day. So why did I need to move all over North America in order to grow in him? He has chosen this journey all over the continent to fan into FLAME the desire to know him better!
Following my husband in ministry. This was the first huge lesson God had for me as we moved around. I had visions and desires to have my own ministry. But I learned that God’s plan for me was to help make my husband successful, and that it was God’s ministry, not ours. He was teaching me that what he wanted was my heart, not my position or my leadership ability.
Learning every place I go. I thought I knew a lot about the Bible and about God. After all, I had grown up in church, and then had gotten a Seminary degree. Yet I was learning how much I needed to learn! Growing in the knowledge of him means continuing to learn more day in and day out. He constantly has more to teach me about his ways, his love, his will. He’s taught me the desire to learn!
Adjusting to new people and new places. When God gave us a heart for ministry, and called us to “go”, he promised to go with us wherever we go. He has called us to each of the distant corners of North America. In each place he’s given us the ability to adjust, and a love for the people and place where we are serving. He’s allowed us to see both the need and the beauty of each climate and environment.
Making a new life, a new ministry, a new identity in each place. As we have entered each new area, I’ve faced the feeling of, “Who am I in this place?” At first there is a lost feeling. No one knows us, no one understands our background, our gifting, our personalities and passions. And in our current place of service, where we have moved far away from all of our children, no one knows our children! They don’t even realize that we have kids. God has taught us to be ourselves, to reach out to people, to choose to be known!
Experiencing God’s presence and peace. I have learned most recently, in this far northern place of service where I am 2,000 miles from my children, to accept the peace that God has for me. When I am apart from his presence, and living on my own strength, I hurt! It is in returning to his presence that I find his peace.
In the JOURNEY I’ve moved all over North America and in the process I’ve grown in my desire to know him and his ways. I’ve learned to follow, to adjust, to keep learning, and to stay in God’s presence. So bring on the JOURNEY!
Meet me in the Journey Forum or post a comment. I would like to discuss what you have learned as you have traveled your JOURNEY!
Encouraging you in your journey – you are not alone!
Melanie
Melanie,
Thanks so much for sharing your journey. I am a pastor’s wife and my husband and I and our three children live in four different states. One in FL, New York, TN and we are in KY which is not where we grew up. We thoroughly enjoy where God has placed us but miss the opportunities of being close to our adult children. Hearing your story is an encouragement that God uses the journey to draw us to Him in the ministry He has called us to. Just praying that the Lord will keep our family close despite the distance.
Have you ever wondered if you would be content to STAY in one place for an extended period of time? Could you serve and worship in a church where your husband was not the pastor or he was just a regular joe working a secular job but serving in a local church? These are the things I struggle with. My husband resigned with the intent of regrouping our family and learning who we are without the fear of being who the church members want us to be.(The condensed version, of course) It’s been very hard to find myself again; what I like to do, what my interests are, etc. It was actually easier when my schedule was full of only ministry related activities. I didn’t have to think about it. I was on auto-pilot. Just do what is expected and show up. It’s been 2 years and I still am struggling to trust that people like me for me and not for my position with the pastor. Does anyone else relate?
Absolutely can relate. After 22 years of doing one thing -that of being a Senior Pastor’s wife – We moved to a city to be a professor and wife. I was lost. Didn’t know who I was. I finally realized (this took me over two years to sort this out) that I was struggling not because I lost my identity but because I had been a Pastor’s wife longer than I had been a church member. I knew how to be a Pastor’s wife – I really did not know what it looked like to be a church member. Wow! It was a revelation! It was huge! It really didn’t change anything about where we were or what we were doing but it helped that I knew why I felt like a fish out of water. Why I didn’t make friends as easily as I had before. Why I lived in guarded seclusion. So, what am I doing differently – I started “Contagious Joy.” God used my discomfort to help me understand that there are many ministry wives who get lost in the shuffle of the ministry journey. In the transition, in the strife, in the fever pitched pace we can go on auto pilot along the journey! But God doesn’t want us on auto pilot! He will use whatever means to get my attention and yours as He desires a deeper intimate relationship! I don’t quite know why He wants that kind of relationship with me – but He does. He wants this kind of relationship with each of us. So, I am glad you are sharing here and I am praying we will help each other and encourage one another as we travel this journey! I’m Praying as you STAY until God says differently. Praying for the contentment of your heart. Praying that you will discover how valuable you are as HIS daughter not just as the Pastor’s Wife. Praying that you will fix your eyes on Jesus! Praying that you will dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. I have found that once a heart is surrendered to ministry always in ministry. Look for the ministry opportunities that HE has for you right where you are “STAYING!” YOU WILL BE AMAZED! Love you my sister!