We often talk about moving on when we are trying to bring closure to a particular situation or part of life. Moving on can be a great release when you are doing so in the right way, but the timing has to be right and matters have to be dealt with to achieve that.
Jesus had to move on. On Monday, we looked at how He gave the disciples the great commission and moved on in his own personal journey to Heaven. The disciples moved on (less willingly I suspect) but moved on to great things – I suspect they knew little of what was in store when Jesus commissioned them.
That is one of the great things about moving on. It brings fresh challenges, fresh surprises, and exciting times. When I was at St Matthews for the last service, it was an emotional time for many, but Sheila and Martin both talked about moving on to the challenge ahead.
I have been involved in some of the planning for moving on and it is amazing how God has worked in his time and in his way for this to come together. At times, despite our best efforts, things have fallen into place in such a way that it could only be under God's direction rather than our own.
But God also makes us move on. We may well still have been in St Matthew's now if the boiler hadn't given up – we had been talking about various projects over recent years with the intention of moving on but not actually doing it – God decided what needed to be done and provided for us in that moving on process. 5 years ago, none of us could have predicted the events that lead us to where we are now, and yet, what a great place to be.
So, can I encourage you to rest today? To rest in the knowledge that with God at the helm, things are in His control. We might not enjoy parts of it, there may be rough times, but as Jesus did when out in the boat on Lake Galilee with the disciples, with His power, He can calm the waters where it does not seem possible.
Richard Mason
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