Last Updated on June 23, 2018 by OCF Communications
In preparation for our move, I found myself wondering what our new neighbors would be like. OK, I was obsessing over it. We have grown to love the people we live next to, and trying to imagine unfriendly neighbors peering at us while grilling out on the deck was making my stomach hurt.
By God’s design, I am not a worrier. This particular uncertainty, however, was causing me stress. Why? Because we think this could be our last earthly home! It’s a BIG deal and if we don’t like it, we can’t just pack up and move again, nor do we want to. We’ve made commitments. We’ve purchased a home for the long term—or until God sends notice otherwise.
In my spirit, I could hear God saying, Do you trust me?
Then, this verse came to mind “…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).
So I made the choice to let go. I gave up. I surrendered. As God would have it, the sermon at church that very Sunday was titled “Do you know your neighbor?” My daughter and I talked about meeting our new neighbors—in what ways we could introduce ourselves, and how it might go.
Moving day arrived and as we took a break from unloading boxes at our new home, there was a knock at the door. Upon opening the door, I noticed a colorful plant in the arms of a thoughtful woman. My new next-door neighbor, bearing gifts, had stopped by to welcome us to the neighborhood. We chatted for a few minutes and, after feeling we had made a connection, I realized God just wants me to allow Him to orchestrate the events of my life, to submit to His will and to be ok with it.
We honored Him by praying through the process and really listened for His leading. In return, He has blessed us with a neighborhood full of kind and friendly people…which, I think, is what His plan was all along!
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