I Will Follow You (Oh, Really?)!

Posted by Noemy Clayborn on May 9, 2011 in Daily Bread | 2 comments

As I listen to the words of the song I was singing in the car this morning, I had to think – really?

Let the Water’s Rise (MIKESCHAIR):
Don’t know where to begin. It’s like my world’s caving in.
And I try but I can’t control my fear. Where do I go from here?
Sometimes it’s so hard to pray when You feel so far away.
But I am willing to go where you want me to.
…
You’re in the eye of the storm and the calm of the sea
You’re never out of reach God, You know where I’ve been
You were there with me then. You were faithful before, You’ll be faithful again.
I’m holding Your hand
…
There’s a raging sea right in front of me.
Wants to pull me in, bring me to my knees.
So let the waters rise, if You want them to.
I will follow You I will swim in the deep ‘cuz You’ll be next to me
I will follow You …

We like to think we will follow God wherever, but when push comes to shove, what happens? That is where I found myself not long ago.

My husband and I decided that when our oldest son graduated high school we would make a change – move across the country and start fresh. His parents had just moved to Georgia, we had visited and liked what we saw. The planning started. Three years later, we sold almost everything we owned (one 6x7x8 foot POD – that’s it!). My husband and youngest son moved to Georgia in June. I stayed in California, moved our oldest into the dorms in late August, then that same day, I left the only state I had ever lived in. I drove across the country with a car full of cloths and my bike (thank God for my sister joining me for this road trip).

Ten days later I started my new job. Two months later we moved into our first home. Shopping, painting and decorating consumed me. The holidays came– all was going great. Then … reality hit me. I was alone. I had no family, friends, church home, or direction. The questioning and second-guessing began. God, why am I here? Why have you forsaken me? I had planned for three years. I put all my eggs in one basket – oh dear, I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life!

I started planning my escape from Georgia. I was going back to Cali – where it is always comfortable, sunny, and fun! I set the date for the move – May 27, 2011. I sent emails to all my Cali friends announcing my return. Summer plans were made. But God …

What I did not realize was God’s plan. I thought I decided to move here, start a new life. It was all God’s plan. Okay, so if He called me here, He would make it pleasant, right? Umm… wrong. God needed to do a work in me. He needed to prune some things away, and plant some new seeds in me. He needed to get me one-on-one to do this work. He had to cut off all things comfortable and familiar so I would rely on Him, and only His strength. Boy, was that an ugly time.

God called me here, to this mission field (yah, I know, Hotlanta – heat, hills and humidity!) He said follow Me, and I did. I didn’t like it. He never said it would be easy, He only promised it would be worth it. And now … I live with purpose.