Time sure flies, doesn't it? It's so crazy to think that one year ago today, I had packed up my little Honda Civic with as much as it could fit and began the trek to move 2000 miles away to Minnesota. The day before, I attended the last service at my home church as a California resident, and that service ended with Chris Tomlin's song "I Will Follow," which was incredibly appropriate. My mom and I then began the three-day journey from SoCal to the Twin Cities, stopping in Albuquerque and Wichita before making it to our final destination. |
One thing I specifically remember from that road trip was the fact that I came very close to turning around as we were driving through Iowa. It was the last day of our long drive, and it was finally hitting me that very soon I was going to be living 2000 miles away from everything and everyone I knew. I had never lived anywhere farther than an hour-and-a-half drive from the home where I grew up. Now I was about to arrive in my new home, where the quickest way to see my parents, my girlfriend, etc., would be a 4 or 5 hour trip via plane (depending on layovers). I really started to freak out, and I am so glad my mom was there to keep me from making a huge mistake.
Now it's a year later, and I don't regret a single day since I moved here. The Lord has taught me so much about Himself, myself, and my purpose here. I can't say that I don't still miss California, but I can't imagine living anywhere else than where the Lord has put me. It's been a perfect fit for me working at Beacon of Hope Church, and I have been so blessed to see the music ministry continue to grow and develop in so many ways. There have certainly been hardships, stressful times, days where I have felt like packing it up and moving back to California. But those are the times where I can see God's hand directing everything the clearest. Being in-between jobs and having virtually no income in the month of September, God specifically provided funds for me to survive at the exact moments I needed it the most.
This has certainly been hard. It's not a small task living on your own for the first time, and especially doing so 2000 miles away from your hometown. But God has used this to strengthen me and my faith in ways I never could have imagined. I wouldn't trade any of this experience for anything in the world. I cannot wait to see what the Lord will continue to teach me in the years to come.
Morning by morning, I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God's hand in mine
Season by season, I watch Him amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me...
This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I've heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me.
-Sara Groves, "He's Always Been Faithful"