Overflowing with Hope

In about 6 months, it's almost certain we will be leaving the Washington, DC area for our first permanent military stationing.  Recently, a friend told me she found it somewhat odd how "ok" I was with this.  Wasn't I going to miss friends?  My job?  Living in our nation's capital?  I was a little surprised to hear these questions.... Of course I was going to miss all these things!  But she was right, I am not just ok with the upcoming move, I'm excited for it... and I know I show it.

This got me thinking... is the excitement and anticipation I express being mistaken as apathy toward the friendships I have built here?  And if so, how do I explain the peace that I feel about the move in spite of having to leave so many people I love?

When I moved to DC, I knew without a doubt that it was the place God wanted me to go.  In the year leading up to the move, other doors I had tried to walk through had been slammed shut.  But things for moving to DC fell perfectly into place and each time I came to DC in preparation to move I fell more and more in love with the city.  I sensed God's direction more than I ever had in my life.  And thank goodness for His perfect will, because in DC I had a great grad school experience, met my husband, am part of great church, started my career and have built some wonderful friendships.

Since that time, I have really struggled with understanding where God was taking me.  I didn't feel any direction on where I should take my career, other things I should get involved in, my role within our church, if we should move elsewhere, etc.  I was frustrated because I felt that God was no longer giving me dreams or desires or guidance.

Over the last 6 months that has changed.  I feel God's guidance and direction more than I have in the last 5 years since making the decision to move to DC.  I see His hand on my husband's career in an apparent way and I feel Him pulling us both more and more toward being involved in and serving the military community.  He has given me new dreams and goals for my career, for roles we can have within His church, and for ways we can strive to bless others.

Romans 15:13 says "May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Right now, I am trusting in Him.  With this new direction He is sending us in, there are going to be a lot of struggles... and probably one of the biggest forceable struggles is going to be leaving the community we have built here in DC.  But with each day that I chose to trust in His guidance, I am filled more and more with joy and peace... and I am overflowing with hope for the future.  I can't wait to see what He has up His sleeve for us!

I look forward to these final 6 months in the Capital.  I hope they will be filled with laughter and joy and growing deeper in friendships.  Wherever we head to next, two things will be certain:
1. I will miss all of you in DC greatly.
And 2. God's will is perfect and I believe He will continue to bless our friendships no matter what the distance.