Is Relocation in Our Lives God Led or Self Decided?

[bobinfaith]

Hello brothers and sisters;

Many of you have shared the many places you have moved to since growing up in your hometown.

I have personally reflected on this most of 2025. We had the opportunities relocate but didn't give much thought about it growing up as a military dependent. To be honest it wasn't always fun being the new kid in class.

In the last 3 years we have been blessed to travel but it always feels good when arriving home. Feeling good when arriving back home may be a reason. My question is, is feeling good about arriving home mean we have finally settled in our later years? Is there a chance we may move out of California?

My other question for all of us is, is / was our adulthood part of God's Plan to relocate with our own families because of our careers, military service, ministry, etc...?

In the Old Testaments Abram, Jacob, Moses, Naomi and Ruth relocated. For some they relocated as children. Jeremiah and Ezekiel relocated under oppression or exiled but they were specific prophets with specific instructions from God.

In the New Testaments Jesus relocated to Egypt as an infant but traveled throughout Israel during His mission. The twelve Apostles were scattered and relocated in different provinces while spreading the Gospel.

We may not think about it. Does God place us in the similar places in our lives, and if so, have you pondered why and what was the results that may impact your life today? For what purpose?

I'd like to hear your thoughts and will share more of mine and it's impact in this topic.

God bless everyone.

Bob

 

[Mercedes Benz E Class]

I think relocation should be God decided especially in today's time.

Its imperative that we lean on the Holy Spirit for where we stay or go to. And what His purpose would
be for where we go (not our purpose).

It cant be for superficial (albeit important) reasons such as a job or more money or better education.

Choosing to relocate or not to could be the difference between life and death.

We need the leading of the Holy Spirit especially as the nations descend into end times and as the powers
sit around to address wars etc. Who knows where what will pitch up. Who knows which are the next
superpowers to go to war.

Now more than ever we need His voice.

 

[synthplayer]

My father was incredibly successful in his first pastorate. He was called to pastor a group of people who hadn't even secured a plot of land with which to build a church. Within two years, the church built a building and was meeting in it regularly, but needed a larger building because so many more people were attending. Two more years went by, and the new building proved to be too small yet again! So, they built another by the end of the sixth year. My father was an accountant while he was in high school and college and he had excellent fiscal skills, which is to say, the finances of the church were in excellent condition and the spirit of the congregation was incredibly loving and unified. When it came time to have a vote on rather or not to keep him as pastor, he and my mother were shocked when the vote was negative. According to the rules of our denomination, a pastor that has been voted out as 90 days to leave - this also gives the church sufficient time to find a replacement. During those 3 months, many of the members asked if the vote could be re-done - they highly regretted voting for him to be replaced. Sadly, there was no provision for a second vote. Finally, a group of members informed my father that one of the charter members had scheduled meetings with individual members for the purpose of convincing them they should vote against the pastor remaining in his position. That charter member was my father's best friend.

My father sent his letter to several district superintendents and finally he was called to another church. This was the only offer he received, so he took it. He first traveled to the new church and met with the board, and of course prayed thoroughly. After moving to the new location with his wife and two young boys, he prepared a sermon, and presided over his first Sunday morning worship service. When my father opened up the church that Sunday morning, he discovered a plethora of past due bills and foreclosure notices. He also discovered some things on that first Sunday that were incredible. The design of the sanctuary had an aisle down the middle, with pews on the left and on the right. The congregants on the left didn't speak to the congregants on the right and vice versa. Another person might wonder why God didn't somehow discourage him from accepting the invitation to a church that is in such horrible condition. But, my father just accepted his new position and worked to heal the division in the congregation, and to fix the financial problems. After only six years, the church was unified, and the financial problems were solved.

"All things work together for good for those who love the Lord." I believe we should ask the Lord for guidance in all we do. But, we also have to use our minds to determine what is the best path for us to take. If we make a decision that seems to have been a mistake, He'll get us through it and make something good of it.

 

[crossnote]

In the Old Testaments Abram, Jacob, Moses, Naomi and Ruth relocated. For some they relocated as children. Jeremiah and Ezekiel relocated under oppression or exiled but they were specific prophets with specific instructions from God.

In the New Testaments Jesus relocated to Egypt as an infant but traveled throughout Israel during His mission. The twelve Apostles were scattered and relocated in different provinces while spreading the Gospel.

I would add Paul to that list, often the Apostle's relocation was to a nearby jail.

 

[bobinfaith]

My father was incredibly successful in his first pastorate. He was called to pastor a group of people who hadn't even secured a plot of land with which to build a church. Within two years, the church built a building and was meeting in it regularly, but needed a larger building because so many more people were attending. Two more years went by, and the new building proved to be too small yet again! So, they built another by the end of the sixth year. My father was an accountant while he was in high school and college and he had excellent fiscal skills, which is to say, the finances of the church were in excellent condition and the spirit of the congregation was incredibly loving and unified. When it came time to have a vote on rather or not to keep him as pastor, he and my mother were shocked when the vote was negative. According to the rules of our denomination, a pastor that has been voted out as 90 days to leave - this also gives the church sufficient time to find a replacement. During those 3 months, many of the members asked if the vote could be re-done - they highly regretted voting for him to be replaced. Sadly, there was no provision for a second vote. Finally, a group of members informed my father that one of the charter members had scheduled meetings with individual members for the purpose of convincing them they should vote against the pastor remaining in his position. That charter member was my father's best friend.

My father sent his letter to several district superintendents and finally he was called to another church. This was the only offer he received, so he took it. He first traveled to the new church and met with the board, and of course prayed thoroughly. After moving to the new location with his wife and two young boys, he prepared a sermon, and presided over his first Sunday morning worship service. When my father opened up the church that Sunday morning, he discovered a plethora of past due bills and foreclosure notices. He also discovered some things on that first Sunday that were incredible. The design of the sanctuary had an aisle down the middle, with pews on the left and on the right. The congregants on the left didn't speak to the congregants on the right and vice versa. Another person might wonder why God didn't somehow discourage him from accepting the invitation to a church that is in such horrible condition. But, my father just accepted his new position and worked to heal the division in the congregation, and to fix the financial problems. After only six years, the church was unified, and the financial problems were solved.

"All things work together for good for those who love the Lord." I believe we should ask the Lord for guidance in all we do. But, we also have to use our minds to determine what is the best path for us to take. If we make a decision that seems to have been a mistake, He'll get us through it and make something good of it.

I would add Paul to that list, often the Apostle's relocation was to a nearby jail.

Good morning, synthplayer and crossnote;

I knew a Pastor friend who stepped down from his Church in California to accept a new position in New Mexico. When he relocated with his family, the Church ended up not hiring him. With no warning and no job, my friend's wife and two children stood by him and overcame the setback with perseverance. They came back to California and in God's time led him to the Church where he is serving today.

As crossnote added Paul was sent to places like jail and ships in rough waters. This is a good example of God knowing what He was doing as His servant Paul tended his mission under the worst of circumstances.

synthplayer, was your father pastoring close to where my wife and I use to live, Walnut Creek in the late 1980s? Thank you for sharing his testimony.

God bless everyone.