When I was younger, I would read "God sets the lonely in families" found in Psalm 68:6 and think how lucky I was to grow up in a family of seven. For someone who loves to be around people, this promise rang true in my life.
Growing up with four siblings, two loving parents and a dog who was always around to play with, my family was by my side through thick and thin. My siblings are my best friends, and my parents are two of the wisest people I know.
But a year out of college has taken me 10 hours away from my family, and I often wonder what God is thinking. While I could be described as an independent soul, and I don't often feel homesick, I do sometimes feel family-sick.
I ache at the thought of my niece growing up recognizing me mostly from pictures. I hate knowing two of my sisters plan for a bachelorette party for a third sister, something I won't be able to attend.
When I thought of everything and everyone carrying on with life without me, I cried out in the words of Peter, "I have left everything to follow You!" My cry, however, flew out somewhat bitter, and I immediately heard His calm and loving response of, "Why should I expect anything less?"
In that moment, knowing that following Jesus meant doing whatever it took to obey Him took on a new meaning. If you know there is something or someone in your life that you fear living without, here are a few things to think about.
- Jesus might ask you to give up what you love most to see if you are willing to follow Him, no matter the cost.
- Leaving behind something important to you means you place it at the foot of the cross instead of idolizing it and setting it above Christ in your heart.
- Stepping out of the comfort zone of whatever you love most allows you to strengthen your faith and lean on Him more than you have in the past.
So while I left my family behind me on the East Coast, fancy inventions like telephones and Skype, along with cars and airplanes, have enabled me to keep in touch with my best friends and continue to gain wisdom from my parents.
And God is showing His faithfulness by providing me with a church family and a work family, both made up of people I wouldn't trade away for anything.
In response, then, to my outburst of telling Jesus what I have left behind for Him, He reminded me that I am not called for anything less than that. We are not called to give just some of what we love. We are not called to follow him halfheartedly. We are called to place everything at His feet and follow Him. No matter what.
