Stepping Out on Faith

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

Doing what God has called one to do is seldom easy. God’s plan does not fit neatly inside a one-size fits all box. His way of doing things simply is not the way we would choose to do them. We came to Constanta, Romania in 2002. We are fully convinced that it was God’s plan for our life at the time. We came eagerly with the peace of God in our hearts to serve Him. We had no clue how long we would be here. When people asked us, our answer was always, “As long as the Lord wants us here.”

Now we are just as convinced that He is asking us to leave Romania. There are several instruments or situations that God has used to reveal to us and confirm His direction for us to leave. No one point of confirmation carried enough weight for us to leave Romania, but when they are added together in the right timing, they have revealed God’s plan for us to make this move. Also, we believe that circumstances, good or bad, are not the deciding factor, because if we moved on circumstances alone, we might never do anything with the Lord to begin with. Circumstances do not stop the Lord, but we do believe He teaches and gives understanding and confirmation through them.

This decision did not come about without a lot of prayer, fasting, searching the scriptures and counseling. I know there will be many questions but bottom line, how do we explain the peace of God that both John and I have in our hearts? Are we discouraged? We have had our share of discouraging moments over the years, but no, we are not leaving because of discouragement. Romania has become home to us. We are all comfortable and content here. Leaving the friends that we have made will tear our hearts out and we are left with the blessing that several of these friends are now brothers and sisters in Christ and we will have eternity together. Do we know what we are doing next? Not yet, but God does and we trust Him to show us the next step.

Stepping out on faith can be heart racing and mind boggling. The enemy always intrudes with fear, doubt, criticism, confusion and discouragement. We earnestly request your prayers during this difficult transition.