No Walk Like The Faith Walk

When you simply open your eyes to the stories around you, it’s amazing how God connects you with people who are in similar “life lesson training”. {In other words, you may not be in the exact same season - but God is teaching you similar things!!} For instance, the other day one of my friends (who had just had her first baby last summer) shared with me that she and her husband are pregnant again!! They were not planning on this and this pregnancy certainly caught them off guard. Later that day we were emailing about the transitions that we were both currently in and she said, “Whoo! There is no walk like the faith walk, eh!!??” That has stuck with me. Then I have another friend that shared on Monday in the staff devotion a verse that the Lord has encouraged her with during a trying time in her life. Ephesians 6:13 from The Message says, “Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.” Needless to say, this is going to be my memory verse for the next couple of weeks. I want this one ingrained on my heart. 

When Brandon first accepted this job and we began processing all the huge transitions before us, he said: “Babe, it’s game time all the time now!” In other words, there are going to be ups and downs all along the way but let’s hunker down and remember that we are on the same team (Team Nall!!) throughout this entire “game”. (Most life lesson analogies throughout our marriage find a way to relate back to sports!)

I have noticed that two resounding words from most people as we talk through this adventure that Brandon and I are on is “faith” and “trust”. It’s been cool to have a pen and post-it note handy to write down different peoples’ encouraging words along the way. When our pastor first heard about this big move - after he told us about how excited he was for us - he went on to mention: “Transitions and moves are not easy - but they are sure times of seeing the gospel all the more clearly. You tend to see the things of this world that you were holding on to, and see that all you need is Jesus.” Along the way, we know that all we need is Jesus - but at times like this, it becomes so real. 

It’s been a real marriage moment for Brandon and I to see that no matter what city we are in...Nashville, Birmingham, or Zimbabwe...God is with us and God has given us each other on this journey called life. At the end of the day, that has been such a blessing. Speaking of blessing, if you have not heard Laura Story’s song called, “Blessings”...check it out! I have been listening to this song on repeat all week! There are certain songs that God puts on my heart during different seasons and this song is definitely part of this current season. “...cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops, what if Your healing comes through tears...and what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near...What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?”

Closing statement from the man of the house: "As we go through this move, it is a test indeed. But when you've got a buddy - it's all OK. We are a team and Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, "Two are better than one..." This verse is a great reminder to me that it's always better when we're a team and not trying to do this by ourselves or in our own strength. God is the head of this team!”