Five years ago this month, God called me to leave the church I was attending. I was concerned about liberal denominational views that the church at large was having, but "my" local church didn't agree with those views. "My church" was conservative, and it was where all my friends were. Yet God called me to leave. And I obeyed.
It wasn't easy. The first Sunday as I worshipped at a new church, a church where I didn't know anyone, and the songs weren't familiar, I shed a few tears. And the next Sunday. And possibly even the Sunday after that. I missed my pastor. I missed my church. I missed my friends. But I obeyed.
What I didn't know, but God did, was that while I only heard what God was calling me away from, I didn't know what he was calling me to. He called me to new friends. He called me to a church that would help me build my speaking ministry. He called me to church where my husband would experience revival and be led to earn his masters in theology. He called me to a church where my marriage would grow and flourish. He called me to a church that would fill my daughter with the Holy Spirit, and give her a vibrant love for Jesus.
The reason I blog about this today, is because now five years later, he has called the pastors and many of the congregation of my former church to leave the denomination. And they may be scared. And they may even be shedding a tear or two. Because when God calls us away from something we love, something familiar, something comfortable, it can be hard. Because we only see what we'll be missing.
But if we could see what God is leading us to, we wouldn't walk away from the former, but run. I love "my" new church. But more importantly than that, I love that my God who began a good work in me is seeing it through to completion. Because that is who He is, and what He does. I obeyed, and I was blessed more richly than I could have imagined. And I know my that he is going to do the same for my friends who are taking those same scary steps of obedience today.
What is God calling you to do today? Take that first step of obedience. Don't look at what you're walking away from. Look toward the blessings that God is calling you to.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6
Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com
