Have you ever looked around your life, completely content with the blueprints you drafted, only to realize God was holding an entirely different set of plans?
For about six months, I felt a persistent pull in my spirit telling me to move on. And if I’m being completely honest, I fought it. I argued with God over it because moving was the last thing I actually wanted to do. I was comfortable right where I was. I had my next steps neatly laid out: I could clearly picture myself holding my camera, stepping fully into working as a Faith-based mental health coach in my own office, and eventually speaking on stages to encourage others. Everything was planned. But as I kept clinging to my own vision, my spirit became strangely quiet.
I didn’t understand how a move would even be possible given our financial situation. But God doesn’t need our permission or a pristine bank account to open a door.
Out of nowhere, a random phone call came through telling me to take the next step—assuring me that I had support and help behind me to make it happen. Within just a few days, a massive shift took place. What felt completely unexpected and unplanned on my end had been orchestrated by God all along.
Sometimes God doesn’t just ask for a minor tweak in our routine; He hands us packing tape, a new zip code, and a map we haven’t memorized yet. Leaving a community I was invested in for over a year, packing up our lives, and stepping out into the unknown was wild, fast, and completely unscripted. But I’ve learned that leaving isn’t always about escaping a hard place; sometimes it’s simply God saying, “Your work in that season is done, but your story is just getting started.”
Grief, Comfort, and the Surprise of Unpacking
In the beginning, my biggest sadness wasn’t even for myself—it was for my kids. My mother’s heart hurt because I didn’t know what to expect for them, and I hated the thought of disrupting their world.
Yet watching them step into this transition has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. Neither of them shed a single tear. They both love their new schools, they’ve made so many sweet friends, and I have watched their little hearts bloom with genuine happiness.
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)
As for our new home, it’s significantly smaller than where we were, but I absolutely love it. Its simplicity doesn’t overwhelm my mind—especially when it comes to keeping it clean! The physical packing process actually turned into a beautiful mental clearing. As I decluttered and donated box after box of things I didn’t even realize I still owned (or wondered why I ever kept), it felt like I was shedding old weight to make space for fresh blessings.
Stepping Out Without a 5-Year Plan
Looking back, my sadness in the beginning wasn’t from anxiety or depression—it was pure confusion. I didn’t understand why God was pulling my elbow to leave a place where I felt so comfortable and settled.
We naturally want a 10-point plan before we take a leap of faith. We want a full blueprint with every detail mapped out. But that’s rarely how God moves us into a new season.
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.’”
— Genesis 12:1 (NLT)
God told Abram to go, and then He would show him. Abram didn’t get a full GPS route before loading up his family; he just got a gentle command to step out. True obedience rarely comes with a full 5-year plan. It just takes enough trust to take the very next step, even when you can’t see around the corner.
The Village We Searched For (Because People Need People)
When you go through hard times or wrestle with big life choices, it is way too easy to be handed religious clichés. We’ve all heard phrases like, “Well, just pray about it,” or worse, faced subtle moments where people question your faith or your relationship with God simply because you’re struggling. But prayer was never meant to replace human connection, and having hard questions doesn’t mean your faith is weak.
God created us with a deep, design-level need for one another. People need people.
“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
— 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT)
God rarely drops answers down straight from the clouds; most of the time, He chooses to work through flesh and blood. In 2 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that the comfort and support we receive from God is meant to be passed hand-to-hand through His people.
For over two years, I desperately searched for a real sense of community. I grew up in a small town, and I’ve always believed in the heart of the saying, “It takes a village.” I longed for mom friends, genuine connections, and a place where our family felt fully wrapped in support. I spent two years looking for it—and within one week of moving, God handed it to us on a silver platter.
The floodgates opened. People reached out continuously, new job opportunities popped up, and genuine friendships formed instantly for both me and my husband. God truly worked through others to put us right where we needed to be. Watching my daughter connect with friends who are so encouraging and kind feels like a direct answer to a mother’s silent prayers. We fell right into the exact village we had been praying for.
Life on the Other Side of Obedience
Here is the truth I want to leave you with: stepping out of your comfort zone is scary, but staying in a place God is calling you out of is far harder on your spirit.
Today, things are truly great. My marriage is at an all-time high, my kids are thriving, and mentally and emotionally, I have never felt better. Most importantly, that quietness in my spirit is gone—I am feeling God’s presence so clearly again.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
— Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
If you feel God tugging on your heart to step into a new season—even when your current routine feels comfortable and safe—don’t be afraid to let go of your blueprint. Keep your hands open, surrender your timeline, and trust His grip. Life on the other side of obedience is sweeter, richer, and more full of grace than anything you could have planned for yourself.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below! Have you ever felt God pulling your elbow toward a new season, even when you felt completely settled where you were? How did God use other people to help support you through your transition? Let’s encourage each other in the comments!
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