Moving In Faith

Moving to a new city is never easy, even if it is a city that we have lived in before.  There’s the packing…… and the unpacking.  There is the learning of the neighborhood and the best routes to take in and through new suburbs that we are unfamiliar with.  Figuring out where our favorite grocery store is, finding the best restaurants, and maybe most important, the best coffee shops on each route. And then you add stepping into God’s calling, while also parenting a toddler and an infant at the same time and the transition becomes an even bigger leap of faith.  

As many of you know, my family and I recently made this jump.  We left behind familiar surroundings, close friends, a beautiful home, and the comfort of the known in order to answer the clear direction that God had given us.  We said the one thing we would never do is move back to Iowa, but God sure does have a sense of humor, and we are already thankful that He does. 

Our arrival to the area was not without excitement, as we pulled into the chorus of weather sirens going off warning us of a severe impending storm with very high winds.  Thankfully there were so many people ready to help us unload, even as the sirens went off.  We couldn’t be more thankful for all the help.  We had old friends from when we lived in Des Moines, long time friends from Pathway church, new friends from Pathway Church whom we had not met yet. Then to top it off, Tanja’s father had reached out to his Combat Vets Motorcycle Association brothers here in Des Moines to also provide us some assistance. It was truly incredible.  The truck was unloaded in less than a half hour.  To have all that support in the midst of a serious storm meant so much to us.  It was a really neat welcome to the area for us.  It was uplifting and we could feel the love from so many!

Now we find ourselves answering the call here at Pathway Church in the midst of the chaos that having two in diapers brings. Ministry is always a journey of faith, but so is parenting. Balancing the demands of church leadership with sleepless nights, diaper changes, and toddler tantrums has and will continue to require full reliance on Him.  There are moments when I feel the weight of both.  Even as I began to write this blog last night, I had to put it aside and realize that in that moment my two year old needed me more.  This transition has been hard on her.  Almost everything in her life has changed in the last few months, and considering, she is handling it all so well.  

It’s in the chaos of sleep deprivation, juggling the children with my other responsibilities that I hear God’s quiet voice: "I have called you for this. My grace is sufficient for you."  I’m not going to be perfect.  I’m not going to get it right every time, but thankfully his grace is truly sufficient for me.  It’s a reminder that God doesn’t call us to things we can handle on our own.  He calls us to places where we must fully lean on Him completely.  He holds us up.  He pushes us through.  

One of the biggest challenges of moving is leaving behind relationships that feel like home. As someone in ministry, I know the importance of community. I've seen community change lives, and I've seen the lack of community bring about disctruction. But building those deep relationships takes time. The temptation is to retreat inward, to focus on just getting through each day. But I also know that God never calls us to isolation—He calls us to people. So, we are making a commitment to step out. To invite new friends over even when the house isn’t perfectly unpacked. To be vulnerable and share our struggles with others. To say “yes” when someone invites us into their lives. Because ministry is not just about Sunday mornings. It's about connecting deeply with others in an intentional way. It is about living life out in a pursuit of becoming more like Jesus WITH other believers.  

There are days when I wonder how we will juggle everything—family, ministry, the exhaustion of parenting young kids. But every time I start to feel overwhelmed, I remember why we took this step.  We moved because we believe in God’s calling. We said “yes” because we trust that He is leading us. And we keep going, not because we have all the answers, but because we serve a God who does.  We couldn’t be more excited for what God has in store for us here at Pathway Church, and we have already begun to feel at home and fall in love with so many here.  Pathway has a solid culture of connection already, and we can’t wait to get in the middle and grow our roots deep!

If you’re in a season of transition, whether it’s a new city, a new job, or a new calling—know this: God goes before you.  He is already making a way. And even in the exhaustion, the uncertainty, and the stretching, His grace will meet you there.  For now, I’m holding onto that truth. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find a little extra sleep along the way. I'm also still looking for a verse that gives me a little hope that there just might be less snow here in Iowa going forward. :)

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the mroe as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 CSB