Learning to trust God and live in gratitude can bring peace to the “stress” of moving, packing, unpacking, and decluttering the stuff that no longer serves us.
Boxes. I’m surrounded by boxes as we move and settle into our new home. Yet God is in the midst. He is in the packing, the sorting, the unpacking, the organizing, the donating, the recycling, the finding of homes for our things. He uses this process to strengthen and grow us, if we let Him.
People say buying a house and moving are one of the most stressful things we can go through. I’ll agree that there’s certainly pressures and challenges, and stress if we allow it. But if you know the Almighty God, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. If we yield to the Holy Spirit to make decisions and work through the process, we can do all things, and do it with less stress and more joy than the status quo.
Gratitude
One of the most valuable assets to any challenge is gratitude. I am so grateful for our new house, for our realtor’s patience and knowledge, for the property, the negotiation, the financing, the people who helped with packing and moving, my kids cooperation with cleaning and boxes and not having their toys accessible, my husbands’ persistence and diligence and communication with all the important people, my mother in law’s support, my mom’s encouragement, a donation site just down the road, as well as a recycling center, a peaceful and calm yard to play in, new trees from my sister to jumpstart our family orchard, and so on and so forth. I’m living in so much gratitude.
Then I look at the wall of boxes I haven’t touched in a month. And I remind myself of the blessings. I see the piles that have no place to go yet in our new space. I’m tempted to donate and declutter it all. I feel the stress of unpacking try to grab hold. I breathe. I ask for wisdom. I move forward, not allowing myself to feel stuck. I find joy in the little victories. 2 boxes got unpacked today! We’ve got lots of boxes to protect the ground around our new trees! My son loves the new play corner! A piece of furniture got moved and it found it’s new home!
Bringing it Back to His Word
Moving isn’t uncommon in the Bible. So many stories involve people or families moving, being run out of their homes, being sent on mission in new places, traveling to a new land, and entering the unknown.
Sometimes, as with Joseph’s family moving to Egypt, they bring everything they own, they have animals and transportation to carry their stuff, and they bring bounty with them. Other times, most times, all they take is what they can carry on their body. David on the run from King Saul, Ruth and Naomi returning to Naomi’s homeland, Jesus’ disciples going out into the community.
All these stories have similar themes running through them: provision, humility, a willing heart, needs being met, patience, hard work and diligence, and faithfulness. Above all, they all have a deep trust in God as they move. They trust their path, and that He will provide and take care of them. They don’t need a huge moving truck of stuff. They just know he’ll give them what they need, even if they have to work hard and face enemies in the process.
Trust God in the Move and Live with Simplicity
I know of several large families (5+ kids) moving into an RV and living simply without all the stuff. They focus on family, outdoors and adventure rather than on how many gifts they can accumulate from friends at the next birthday party. They learn to work as a team instead of fighting with the kids every night to clean up toys all over the house. Instead of 50 boxes to unpack, they organize strategically, declutter the rest, and trust God to provide what they need.
I’m not saying we all need to move into an RV, but there’s a lesson in their simplicity. There’s a humility in giving things away and putting our faith in the Creator. Sometimes, the unpacking of a box is where the stress comes from, and other times, it’s the opening of a new level of trust and humility.
As I look at the piles of boxes around me, I choose trust again. I trust the Holy Spirit to guide me on what stays and what goes away. I live in gratitude for the items I’ve had, the memories they’ve brought, and the future the items have with or without me. If He told me to “sell all your things and follow me” it would be hard, but I like to believe I would do it.
Let’s Pray
Lord, I trust you. I trust you with my time, my space, my stuff. I give it all to you. Guide me, show me, lead me; I choose to follow you. I thank you that you don’t call us to be stressed and anxious, but rather to cast our cares on you, to live in a peace that surpasses all understanding. Help me to release the things that no longer serve me, and to cherish the blessings you’ve poured in my lap. I love you and trust you, Lord. I pray the name of Jesus over this season, and the blood of Jesus over my home and heart. Thank you for provision and blessings.
Amen
Thank you for joining me, friend! Have a blessed and sunshiny day š
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