Dying and Prying: Moving on When You Don’t Want To

Counting Down to Move # 24

Dying and Prying

Last time we moved, only 28 months ago, I felt like I was being pressed into a puddle of pudding. Everything on the inside went to mush.

“How can you do this Lord?” I wailed lying on my kitchen floor, blubbering into a roll of paper towels.

I didn’t want to leave my wonderful home, neighbors, church, community, Bible study group, or my oldest child.

It was a season of dying and prying.

“In the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him.”

Hebrews 5:7-9

What I thought made up my identity, (soccer mom, volunteer, church member, valid and respected member of our community), God was letting die. All these things I had put stock in and believed they made me who I was.

I was wrong.

“My son, (daughter), give me your heart.”

Proverbs 23:26

My identity was never in what I was doing. It was and is in what I believe.

He was also prying my hands off the control buttons of life. You know the buttons… my schedule, my children, my choices, my feelings, my wants, basically everything that I thought were, MINE.

“I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and will clothe thee with change of raiment.”

Zechariah 3:4

Oh, the lessons God has taught me during and after the move. It would take a book to tell you, which is exactly what I’m doing, writing a book.

It may never get published or make any of the best seller lists if it does get published. But it will be a living record for my children. I want them to have something in hand that can help them navigate through the tough times of change, the dying and prying times.

Self-motives, fear of the unknown, insecurities that I never realized I carried around in this body have surfaced to the top like rock hard clogs of flour in a sifter. You know the clogs… the ones you throw in the garbage.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Isaiah 41:10

Don’t fret or worry if you happen to be facing an unexpected change during this season of your life. I’ve learned that following the dying and prying season, a growing and sowing season begins.

“He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

Psalms 107:9

“Bloom where you’re planted,” Granny always said.

“My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

Exodus 33:14

SEED: Plant your feet firm that you will follow God no matter where, how, or when.
SOIL: Make sure you have a teachable spirit and your heart stays open to advice or wisdom from others that have been down the same path you’re headed.
SONSHINE: Find a few key scriptures that give you strength, keep them with you, speak them out loud, pray them out loud.
WATER: Things have a way of coming back to you, treat others the way you would want to be treated if it were you in their shoes.
PRUNE: Get rid of bad attitudes, negative speech, unhelpful “friends,” negative thinking or the worse-case scenario mentality.
FERTILIZE: Find a church that professes and teaches the whole truth, get involved with a Bible study group, spend time alone with God EVERY day.
ENJOY: God wants us to enjoy our lives on earth but knows that until we deal with unconfessed, denied or ignored sin we can’t do that. Rest assured, if you are obedient, God will bless you.
ENHALE: Slow down, pause, rest in God’s goodness. Take time to thank him, even if it takes a while to think of something. Continue this practice and after a while you won’t believe how many things you have become thankful for.